It seems that Real Madrid’s acquisition of Mateo Kovačić from Inter Milan has opened the door for Asier Illarramendi’s exit from the club. Naturally, any player with his pedigree (and position) will begin to appear in Arsenal’s transfer rumours… virtually every player, available or not, does. Illarramendi is clearly no exception. However, we’re left with some very interesting and conflicting reports.
According to a report published today by Mundo Deportivo, Arsenal will be battling it out with Liverpool for the player’s signature. Recall also in 2013 that the player was heavily linked with Liverpool before moving to the Spanish capital – after having helped secure UEFA Champion’s League football for Real Sociedad for the first time in a decade.
With Lucas Leiva reportedly wanting to leave Liverpool, the logic seems to make sense. With Arsenal fans continually clamouring for players that could even be conceivably called a defensive midfielder, it makes sense for the Gunners as well. So, well done with the logical thinking, Mundo Deportivo.
However, in another report (also published on Friday, Joe Short in the Express reports that not only was Illarramendi offered to the Gunners, but that Arsène Wenger refused to take the player on, even for the seemingly reasonable asking price of £16m.
Now, it’s true that perhaps Illarramendi has not produced at Madrid the way he may have been expecting to, and that the season’s (relative) failures have forced the club to sign players for its own sake, but Illarramendi has, only in the past couple of years, drawn favourable comparisons to both Xabi Alonso and Claude Makelele, so it seems premature to write him off at this stage of his career, especially since he’s only 25-years-old.
At the end of the day, like with most things Arsenal, it’s going to come down to whether or not the boss rates the player. Having made 59 appearances for one of the 3 largest clubs in the world, it seems like Illarramendi could come in and do a decent job for Arsenal where his job would be providing cover/stiff competition for the club’s current crop of assembled defensive-minded players (though Illarramendi seems to compare more to Mikel Arteta more than Francis Coquelin).
Much has been made of Wenger’s comments this morning that the club is looking to sign players, but only those who clearly strengthen the club, and this gets to the heart of many Arsenal fans’ frustrations regarding the club’s transfer dealings. Arsenal have the need and money for a central midfielder, there is no reason for the club to not sign the Spaniard.
