Arsenal show 'strong interest' in highly-rated Bundesliga star

Tom Weber

• 12 May 2023 18:31 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal are looking for defensive reinforcements this summer, and they have identified Leipzig star Mohamed Simakan as a potential target.

Untimely injuries to key defensive players could cost Arsenal big time this season. Takehiro Tomiyasu and William Saliba were both sidelined with long-term ailments during the Gunners' Europa League clash with Sporting CP, and these losses have shown the vulnerability of Arsenal's defence.

Any team would struggle if they had to make do without two key components in such an important area of the field, mind you, but in the case of Arsenal, it may cause them to miss out on the Premier League title. To avoid something similar from happening again next season, the Gunners are reportedly already thinking ahead.

READ: Arsenal to battle Newcastle and PSG for €50m Bundesliga star

According to the Guardian, Arsenal have identified a Bundesliga star to help shore up their defence next term.

From Leipzig to London?

The man in question is Mohamed Simakan of RB Leipzig. The highly-rated Frenchman has looked an adequate replacement for the likes of Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate when played at centre-back, though he has been used more often as a right-back in 2022/23.

This versatility is what likely makes him so attractive to Arsenal, who are taking a 'strong interest' in the Frenchman, according to The Guardian's Ed Aarons. In that sense, he is similar to Tomiyasu and Ben White, who can both play centrally as well as out on the right.

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Simakan's Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has fallen recently, given that he is perhaps not starting as many games as he would like and due to the fact that Leipzig are experiencing an underwhelming season by their lofty standards, but he is nevertheless still worth €34.5 million. Given that he is under contract until 2027, he will likely fetch even more than that.

When he signed for Leipzig from Strasbourg in 2021, he was worth just €15m. His development has been impressive, but can he make the step up to the Premier League?