Arsenal keeping informed about Man U transfer target Fabinho

Arsenal are keeping track on Monaco midfielder and Manchester United target, Fabinho. 

Like many of Leonardo Jardim’s prodigious Monaco side, Fabinho has attracted plenty of interest across Europe after a superb campaign for the Principality club, namely from Manchester United. The 23-year-old is seen as the long-term successor to club captain Michael Carrick, who has been handed a one-year extension by Mourinho. Having splashed out on Romelu Lukaku and Victor Lindelhof this summer, Mourinho sees Fabinho as the last piece of the puzzle in the spine of his new team. Mourinho, however, will face competition from his old nemesis for the top-notch midfielder.

Having signed a new two-year deal with the club at the back end of last season, Wenger is finally ready to cast off the financial shackles and go all out to finally win a Premier League trophy, if not more. The Frenchman moved quickly to snap up free agent, Sead Kolasinac and then finally landed long-term target, Alexandre Lacazette, for a club record, £52 million. His spending will not stop there as he still very much interested in Thomas Lemar and Fabinho.

With Santi Cazorla out until April, Jack Wilshere seemingly unable to stay fit and Oxlade-Chamberlain’s future still undecided, Arsenal are in need of a midfielder who can add depth and quality to a team, that for many sports betting companies, have tipped Arsenal as a strong favourite for the title. On the face of it, he seems tall, ungainly and probably poor with the ball but he is anything but. Yes, he has a large frame – 6’2″ to be precise – but the Brazilian is a very clever player who can play from deep or go further forward to contribute in the attacks.

Although, not on the same level as a Xabi Alonso style deep-lying playmaker, Fabinho is very quick to analyse space and defeat an opposition press. He can take the ball in tight areas and is also capable of beating his man one on one. Going forward, he may not be able to slalom through multiple defenders but he is definitely a handful and not as defensive-minded as some might think. 

 

 

Without the ball, Fabinho is even better. His ability to anticipate opposition attacks and nullify them without is superb. He never over commits or dives into challenges and instead opts to read the game and steal the ball. In Arsenal’s system he could easily play as the box to box central midfield player alongside Granit Xhaka. While Monaco may not be keen on selling the Brazilian midfielder, a sizeable bid of £40-50 million could well force them to cash in now. If Arsenal are quick, they could well be getting a steal and one over on Man United.