Arsenal opinion: The Gunners should sign Presnel Kimpembe from PSG

According to a report from the Metro, both Arsenal and Manchester United are interested in Paris Saint-Germain defender Presnel Kimpembe.

The Gunners have made contact with PSG over the potential signing of the Frenchman, who has been in and out of the team for the Ligue 1 champions this past season.

Presnel Kimpembe holds a desire to play in the Premier League at some point in his career but he is under contract until 2023 at Parc des Princes, so PSG are in no hurry to sell him this summer.

Yet, Arsenal must attempt to beat Manchester United to the signing of the 23-year-old defender.

The Gunners have been hamstrung with a lack of funds and it seems unlikely to see Unai Emery make a big-money signing this summer, given the fact that he has been handed a paltry transfer budget of £45million.

Emery has to wheel and deal over the summer, using the funds smartly to strengthen his squad ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.

The Arsenal boss’ priority has to be sorting out his defence after a horror show last season, which saw the North London giants finish fifth in the Premier League table.

With Laurent Koscielny on his last legs, Nacho Monreal past his prime and Shkodran Mustafi unreliable, the Gunners are down to very few dependable centre-back options, led by Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Calum Chambers.

Rob Holding’s injury in December massively hurt Arsenal’s chances of securing a top-four finish. While Chambers and Konstantinos Mavropanos will look to impress Emery in the pre-season, no one can deny the fact that the Gunners need a new central defender in their ranks.

Kimpembe would be a good fit at the Emirates stadium. Emery knows Kimpembe’s strengths and weaknesses from his time at PSG and that could play a massive role in influencing the Frenchman to leave the Ligue 1 club in search of regular game time for Arsenal.

The 23-year-old is a versatile defender, capable of operating at central defence and left-back with ease. He is a ball-playing centre-half, who likes to come out of his line with the ball and make an incisive pass to one of his teammates.

The France international is hardworking and dedicated to the team’s cause. He is strong and powerful, good in the air and an asset to have during set-pieces.

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Kimpembe has a good turn of pace which helps him make recovery runs. He never hesitates to jump into challenges and tackles to break the opposition’s play.

However, he has the tendency to lose concentration in critical moments and conceded cheap fouls—something which Emery will need to iron out from the 23-year-old’s game.

Verdict

A new central defender is a no-brainer for Arsenal and having worked with Kimpembe in his previous job, Emery must not dawdle to bring him to the Emirates this summer.