Premier League giants Arsenal can sign a potentially ‘world-class’ centre-back for just £6 million in Croatia U21 international Josip Sutalo, as reported by Corriere dello Sport.
Less than two years ago, Dinamo Zagreb sold Josko Gvardiol to RB Leipzig. Now, a defensive colossus likened to Liverpool superstar Virgil van Dijk is valued in the region of £50 million.
Whether Sutalo can follow in his footsteps is anyone’s guess. But the signs certainly look good.
Despite making just 20 league appearances for the reigning Croatian league champions, Sutalo is already on the radar of countless club across the continent. Arsenal are just one of them, according to La Lazio Siamo Noi.
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As you might have guessed, given the name of the aforementioned publication, Lazio are also hot on the heels of Sutalo.
Will Arsenal sign a terrific young defender this summer?
“He can become a world-class stopper,” says Dinamo coach Zeljko Kopic.
According to Robert Sola, a reporter at Croatian publication Sportkse Novosti, Sutalo has blossomed into ‘by far’ the best centre-half in the whole of the top-flight, despite only forcing his way into the Dinamo Zagreb XI a couple of months ago.
“There is one young player who is absolutely advancing (his development), and who is by far the best stopper in the HNL,” says Sola. “And that is Josip Sutalo.
“Gvardiol and Sutalo are certainly the partnership of the future. Ut is only a question of whether that future will accelerate a bit.”
It is understood that Sutalo, who has represented his country at U21 level, will be handed his first senior call-up by Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic ahead of the next international break in June.
It remains to be seen whether Sutalo is still a Dinamo Zagreb player when the 2018 World Cup finalists go head-to-head with Austria, France and Denmark in the UEFA Nations League two months from now.
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