Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are battling Leicester City to sign Valenciennes youngster Ismael Doukoure with the Ligue 2 starlet labelled the “next Dayot Upamecano” in some quarters, as reported by Foot Mercato.
If you’re on the lookout for a talented centre-half, France is probably the place to go.
Ibrahima Konate, Jules Kounde, Presnel Kimpembe, Wesley Fofana and Upamecano himself have all made a name for themselves on the other side of the Channel in recent times.
And while Doukoure is only just getting started, making his professional debut as recently as October, there’s a reason why the teenager is being compared to another former Valenciennes prospect.
Like Upamecano, who sealed a £37 million switch from RB Leipzig to Bayern Munich in February, Doukoure is as impressive with the ball as he is without it, combining his superb defensive instincts with excellent ball-playing skills.
Then again, with Arsenal and Leicester battling Ligue 1 outfit Sochaux for his signature, you could probably guess Doukoure is a defender in the ‘modern’ mould.
Mikel Arteta and Brendan Rodgers are both fully committed to a possession-based, build-from-the-back approach and France’s latest fresh-faced prospect has the skillset to fit in nicely at one of the Premier League’s big hitters.
Foot Mercato reports Doukoure is under contract until 2023.
Interestingly, talkSPORT reported Arsenal wanted Upamecano before Bayern leapt to the front of the queue. Could the Gunners get his heir apparent instead?
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