- 2 hours ago
Arsenal could sign Euro 2024 defender who is BETTER than Riccardo Calafiori
Bence Bocsák
- Updated: 15 Jul 2024 17:51 BST
- 3 min read
It's no secret Mikel Arteta is keen to bring in a left-sided defender to the Emirates this summer.
The club's primary target has been Riccardo Calafiori, who has enjoyed a fantastic campaign at Bologna and showcased his quality for the Italian national team at Euro 2024.
Arsenal seem to be closing in on the race for his signature, with Calafiori having made it clear he is happy to accept the Gunners' offer.
READ MORE: Arsenal and Man Utd told to pay €30m for Euro 2024 star by club president
However, negotiations have stretched on with Bologna and Arsenal are yet to secure an agreement with Calafiori's current club over a transfer fee.
If these negotiations continue to go on, Arsenal may be dissuaded from pursuing the deal and could turn their focus elsewhere, including towards another defender who has caught the eye at Euro 2024.
According to Fabrizio Romano speaking on his Playback channel, Arsenal are one of the clubs alongside Liverpool who are interested in England international, Marc Guehi.
The Crystal Palace defender has enjoyed a really good tournament with England despite the final ending in heartbreak and it definitely feels like he is ready to move onto pastures new this summer.
Having come through the ranks at Chelsea and having spent the last couple of years at Palace, staying near England's capital could be an attractive option for Guehi, which is why Arsenal could be a frontrunner for his services.
More importantly, according to football data company SciSports, Guehi actually has a higher current skill and potential than Calafiori.
Current ETV
Marc Guéhi
D (C)
C. Palace
Marc Guéhi
D (C)
C. Palace
ETV Range
€27.4M - €45.7M
According to SciSports, Guehi has a current skill rating of 103.7 as opposed to Calafiori who has a skill rating of just 91.1.
Meanwhile, Guehi's potential is rated as 119.8 in comparison to Calafiori, whose potential is rated 113.3.
So on paper, Guehi could be the better option out of the two, which is why Arsenal would be smart to look at him as an alternative solution.
