This 27-year-old Argentine defensive wall would be a brilliant fit for Bournemouth and Howe must get him

Why Walter Kannemann would be the ideal January business for Bournemouth

Argentinian centre-back Walter Kannemann is currently one of the best defenders in the Brazilian Serie A.

A youth product of Argentinian club San Lorenzo, Kannemann was a regular for his boyhood club before joining Mexican club Atlas back in 2015. However, it is at his current club Gremio that the 27-year-old has ultimately realised his full potential.

Kannemann has been an integral part of Gremio’s backline in the Brazilian Serie A and Copa Libertadores. The 27-year-old has strung together some consistently impressive displays at the heart of the defence this season and his purple patch hasn’t gone unnoticed. Kannemann was rewarded with an international debut back in September this year and has three caps for Argentina at the senior level.

Standing at just a shade over 6ft., Kannemann is not particularly tall for a centre-back but he makes up for it with his ability to take off the ground quickly to beat his offensive counterparts to the aerial balls. The 27-year-old averages 2.5 successful aerial duels this term for Gremio.

To go with his above-average aerial ability, Kannemann excels with his superior game-reading ability at the back. Known for his positional awareness as a defender, the 27-year-old rarely gets caught out of position and uses his anticipation and agility to keep the attackers at bay.

He is a centre-back with a high level of concentration and composure, and does not tend to dive into challenges. Kannemann uses his anticipation and awareness to break up the play with crucial tackles and interceptions. Tackling is one of his key attributes and the Argentine international is never afraid to stick his foot out to win the ball.

To put things into perspective, he would be a good addition to the Bournemouth squad in January. The Cherries made a fantastic start to their Premier League campaign but Eddie Howe’s men have lost momentum midway through the season, having managed to win only one of their last seven games.

They have been quite solid at the back this season, showing plenty of resilience against some of the top teams. Nathan Ake and Steve Cook have complemented each other very well and have formed a formidable pairing at the heart of the defence.

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However, Eddie Howe should be concerned about the future of Ake at the club as the Dutchman has attracted interest from Spurs and Man United (h/t Telegraph) in recent times. Jack Simpson is still very young and inexperienced at the highest level, leaving Tyrone Mings as the only realistic option.

Bournemouth need to add some fresh faces to boost their chances of a top-ten finish and newly-capped Argentine international Walter Kannemann certainly fits the bill at the Vitality Stadium.