Arsenal reportedly want to sign Lukas Klostermann from RB Leipzig this summer, but would he be a worthwhile acquisition?
According to claims from German news outlet Bild, the Gunners and La Liga club Atletico Madrid have expressed respective interests in landing the defender.
Klostermann had a good season at Leipzig and proceeded to impress for Germany at the Under-21 European Championships this summer. With Arsenal now seemingly keen, should Unai Emery pursue a deal for the youngster?
It goes without saying that the Gunners must add further quality to their defensive options ahead of the 2019/20 campaign. They struggled at the back throughout last term and, as a consequence of their woes, missed out on the Champions League qualification berths.
However, whether or not their weaknesses in their own third lie at right-back is certainly questionable. Hector Bellerin missed swathes of Emery’s first season in English football because of a severe long-term injury, meaning that Ainsley Maitland-Niles deputised.
The Arsenal academy graduate did, in fact, impress on many occasions, as his marauding runs down the flank offered the team another outlet in attack. He was also adept in defensive situations considering his preference is to play in a midfield role.
Emery is likely to have both Bellerin and Maitland-Niles available to him in August, even following Stephan Lichtsteiner’s release, indicating that he has more than enough right-back options to call upon.
Arsenal’s true shortage of depth lies in the heart of their defence, along with on the left. While Klostermann, who has already played twice for the senior Germany team, is a hugely promising player who will likely have a bright future, the Gunners must utilise their limited resources more wisely.
Emery will need to be cautious with his funds, and prioritising the signings of a central defender, left-back, and dynamic forward must be the process that is undertaken this summer.
