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arsenal There is strong interest in signing an “outstanding” defender who has now been identified as Mikel Artetapriority goals.
Gunners hope to strengthen defense this summer
this Premier League The title race is heating up with Manchester City beating Fulham 3-0 on Wednesday night to close the gap to three points, making the Gunners’ victory over Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium tonight all the more important.
Arteta’s side have been at the top of the table for quite some time and a strong defense has been key to their success, scoring just 17 goals in the Premier League, the fewest of any team.
Gabriel’s performances have been particularly impressive, with the Brazilian averaging 1.1 blocks per 90 and 5.8 clearances per 90, ranking first in Arteta’s side in both metrics, but a recent report suggested the manager is looking to bring in a new partner for William Saliba this summer.
According to Spanish reports, Arsenal are now keen on signing RB Leipzig star Castro LukbaThe defender has been identified as Arteta’s top target as the Spaniard looks to add depth to his defence.
With Ben White’s future up in the air and the north Londoners likely to need to sign a new defender at the end of the season, Lukba is believed to be the ideal option, with RB Leipzig willing to sell for €60m (£52m), albeit with an €80m (£70m) release clause.
Real Madrid are also in contention for the centre-back, so there may be stiff competition for his signature, but the Gunners are confident they can win the competition and he could become a reliable replacement for White…
‘Outstanding’ Lukeba could become Arsenal’s long-term signing
Described as “outstanding” by scouts Ben MartinsonThe Frenchman had been a key member of RB Leipzig this season, making 16 appearances in the Bundesliga before suffering a recent knee injury.
During this period, the 23-year-old’s defensive attributes continued to show, with an average of 1.5 interceptions per 90 minutes, ranking second in Leipzig, while an average of 62.3 accurate passes per 90 minutes also ranked him first.
With doubts surrounding White’s future amid interest from rival Premier League clubs, bringing in a new centre-back in the summer transfer window could be important.
Lukba has proven he is now ready for a move to the Premier League and can be a reliable long-term addition to Arteta’s backline, but Gabriel does not need to be replaced anytime soon, with the 28-year-old recently impressing in the 3-0 win over Sunderland, earning a 7.8 SofaScore rating.
