Arsenal are targeting Polish international defensive midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak after sending a delegation of scouts to Tbilisi, Georgia to watch him in the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona on Tuesday. The Telegraph reports that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will meet his release clause of £21.26m in efforts to strengthen the club’s depth in defensive midfield.
Krychowiak has won the Europa League with Sevilla after moving from French side Reims in 2014. The 25-year-old has also made 26 senior appearances for Poland, scoring a single goal. He also scored Sevilla’s first goal in the Europa League final, which Sevilla went on to win 3-2 over Dnipro.
The signing of Krychowiak will make for defensive midfield competition for the first time in a long time for Arsenal. After Francis Coquelin broke out in the second half of last season, he was touted to be the first “real” defensive midfielder for Arsenal since Gilberto Silva.
Krychowiak would rival the Frenchman for the position, and also if one were to get injured, there would be capable cover. There is no reason for Arsenal not so sign Krychowiak, as they have lacked a strong, commanding presence in midfield for a long time, and that is not something the 5’10 Coquelin can provide. He would add physicality and intimidation as well as the ability to win aerial duels in midfield with his 6’1 frame.
Players of Krychowiak’s quality in his position are rare, and signng him would send the message to the rest of the Premier League that Arsenal are ready to challenge for the title. His strength would help him adapt quickly to the Premier League, which is much more physical than that of the La Liga. Getting a player of his quality for a relatively low price would be a very shrewd signing, and at 25, his best years are likely ahead of him.
