When you’re a club of Arsenal’s size, transfer rumours are always circulating, and there’s one potential move that has captured the imagination of the fanbase.
Indeed, Gunners supporters were over the moon to see the club linked with Tariq Lamptey, and to be fair, we can understand why.
The right-back is one of the most electric players in the Premier League. He’s absolutely rapid, he’s exciting going forward and he plays in a position the Gunners need to improve.
However, the club can’t allow this excitement to cloud their judgement when looking to make the move.
Now, we’re not saying that Arsenal shouldn’t sign Lamptey, he looks to be a fantastic talent, and he’s been described as ‘dangerous’ by Ashley Cole in the past.
With that being said, there is one big issue that Arsenal must consider.
Indeed, Lamptey is now out until the end of the season, and he’s had numerous injury problems this term, not appearing in the Premier League since December.
We all know the dangers of signing and injured player, just look at what happened when Arsenal signed Kim Kallstrom all those years ago.
Of course, Lamptey would be joining under completely different circumstances to Kallstrom, but there are still some pitfalls that need to be considered before signing him in the summer.
We don’t know whether or not six months on the sidelines will have affected the pace that he relies on so heavily, and with all due respect, he’s not proven himself at this level on a long-term basis.
Yes, he was lighting up the league earlier this season, but that was only a three month spell and signing a player based on what could just be a purple patch is dangerous.
The Gunners are reportedly favourites to sign Lamptey, and if he comes in he could be an absolute revelation, but Edu and his team must do their due-diligence on this signing before making the move in order to assure his fitness worries are behind him and that he’s able to replicate the form he showed earlier this term over a number of years.
This isn’t one Arsenal should rush into.
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