Arsenal cannot trigger Firmino’s release clause, but there’s nothing stopping them triggering another that will hurt the Reds.
A recent report from Belgian newspaper Le Soir that featured leaked documents suggested that Liverpool star Roberto Firmino’s contract included a £83m release clause that one club could not trigger, Arsenal.
While there is no reason to suggest that the Gunners held any interest in the Brazilian anyway, let alone enough to pay such an eye-watering amount to sign him, the report is surely likely to annoy the North London side.
Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino in action
But there is a way that Arsenal can get back at their Premier League rivals while also signing one of the most highly-rated players in the top flight currently.
Dutch news outlet De Telegraaf has reported that the Reds want to sign Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk, and are prepared to trigger the £25m release clause reportedly in the centre-back’s contract.
However, a more recent report from the Daily Mail suggested that the Merseyside club were not planning to make their move in January, which potentially leaves the door open for another club to swoop in.
Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk celebrates
While, once again, there is no suggestion that van Dijk is on Arsenal’s radar, he is certainly the kind of player that Arsene Wenger should be looking at very closely.
As well as proving to be an excellent defender, the former Celtic man has shown that he is composed on the ball whether it be when trying to retain possession or when trying to make something happen going forward.
Those qualities mean that he would fit right in in Arsenal’s team, and he would arguably be a better option than Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista as well as a genuine rival for Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Having three players of that quality, as well as two further senior options – and Rob Holding also coming through – could be crucial to their hopes of battling at the business end on several fronts in future, and it seems unlikely that they would be able to sign another player of van Dijk’s ability for just £25m.
Some feel that getting the defence right could be the final piece in the jigsaw for Liverpool, but Arsenal can make that puzzle much more difficult to complete while also strengthening their own squad, so signing van Dijk is surely a no-brainer.
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