Arsenal are ‘keeping tabs’ on Valencia’s powerful defender Nicolas Otamendi, according to reports in the Daily Mirror this evening. Manchester United are also interested in the player, but Arsenal are thought to be pursuing signing a defender more intensely than the North West club this window.
Arsene Wenger also likes Villareal’s talented defender Gabriel Paulista, and is willing to pay over £5 million to secure his services. Paulista is thought to be very interested in the move to North London, and has been quoted as saying it would be ‘excellent’ if a deal were to go through.
Speaking on a potential move, he said: “The subject is being discussed by my agent and the club.
“If I go to Arsenal it will be excellent. But if it’s not finalised then I am relaxed. I am focused on my work here.”
A potential stumbling block in any deal is Paulistsa’s lack of EU passport and caps for Brazil. He would need to get a work permit and as we’ve seen in the past with Wellington Silva and Joel Campbell it isn’t always as easy as you would think.
If a deal can’t be reached with Villareal, Otamendi could be the man. He’s strong, can play multiple positions, and would immediately compete with Mertesacker and Koscielny. He does come with his own set of negatives though.
Firstly, he would not come cheap. Not only is it January, but he is a highly-rated and pretty well-known defender. As mentioned earlier, Manchester United have been interested in the past so his price could put Wenger off. Secondly, his height could be a worry. At just under 6’0” he could be overawed by some of the taller strikers in the league.
On the whole though, Otamendi would be a great signing. He’s at a great age and will only get better. Whatever happens, we must sign a defender. And I think Wenger knows that. It’s just a case of who and when, not if.
