?Arsenal are the latest Premier League club to be linked with highly sought after Southampton captain Virgil van Dijk and are reportedly keen to beat their many rivals to the £50m-rated Dutchman’s signature this summer.
Chelsea have been favourites in recent weeks, while Everton, Manchester City and Liverpool have all been mentioned in conjunction with possible summer swoops.
But, according to the Daily Mirror, the Gunners are now in the hunt as well. It is said that the club have already made enquiries to Southampton as Arsene Wenger looks to kick off a period of major squad rebuilding after what has overall been a disappointing campaign.
The point is made by the Mirror’s report that Arsenal were looking at Van Dijk prior to his £13m move to Southampton from Celtic in 2015 and that failing to land him then is now considered to be a ‘source of regret’ at the Emirates Stadium.
Wenger opted for a back three (Gabriel Paulista, Laurent Koscielny, Rob Holding) when Arsenal beat Middlesbrough on Monday night and is said to be keen on adopting it more permanently.
Increasingly popular with clubs up and down the country, it is a system that Van Dijk is already well suited to and would certainly give Arsenal far greater defensive strength and solidity than they have experienced in recent months.
Another rumoured target who certainly fits with that is Sead Kolasinac.
Stories of an agreement with Arsenal ahead of leaving Schalke as a free agent this summer proved to be premature after the player’s father claimed a decision is yet to be made, but the Bosnian international has spent much of this season operating as a left wing-back and offers what the much older Nacho Monreal cannot in that respect.
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