Italian outlet CalcioStyle claim Arsenal are battling Juventus and Atletico Madrid for Udinese defender Nahuel Molina – with Cedric Soares expected to leave the Emirates. A fee of £25million is required to land the right-back.
Joining Udinese from Boca Juniors in the summer of 2020, 24-year-old Molina has since sparkled for Udinese in Serie A – and earned himself a regular spot in the Argentina side. He has played 63 times for the Italians.
His form was solid in the first season, playing 31 times and helping Udinese finish in a respectable 14th – scoring two and creating five. This season, it has gone up a level – scoring seven and creating four in 32 games.
Little surprise, that the 15-time Argentina has caught admirers from Arsenal, Juventus and Atletico Madrid. However, the £25million price tag is said to be too high for Atleti. The report says Cedric Soares ‘will leave’.
Molina in, Cedric out: Good Arsenal business, or too expensive?
Molina is a top player. He is well worth the £25million price tag, but is it necessary at Arsenal when they have a solid back-up in Cedric, Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles out on loan – and Takehiro Tomiyasu?
Arsenal desperately need big additions up front, and in midfield. They need replacements for the out-of-contract trio of Eddie Nketiah, Alexandre Lacazette and Mo Elneny. They could be working with a restricted budget.
While Molina is a good signing, they hardly need to improve their options at right-back. Arteta would be much better served looking at the positions that require attention, before signing a player like Molina.
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