Arsenal’s plans for the summer will be firmly underway behind the scenes and Mikel Arteta apparently wants the Gunners to sign a Premier League full-back.
The Gunners have pushed Manchester City all the way this season but are still likely to miss out on the title, barring a surprise at The Etihad this weekend.
Regardless, though, Arsenal are going to go out and add to their squad further in the summer as Mikel Arteta looks to finally dethrone City.
Last year, the Gunners went out and splashed big money on Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber, David Raya, and Kai Havertz.
And going into this summer, Arsenal are expected to go again and one player being targeted is Manchester City-owned defender, Yan Couto.
Mikel Arteta wants Arsenal to try and sign Yan Couto
According to a report from TuttoJuve, Arsenal are among a cluster of teams keen on taking Couto this summer.
Despite being owned by Man City, Couto has made his name this season playing for Girona, who have qualified for the Champions League after an extraordinary season in Spain.
Couto has been a key part of that season, contributing ten assists from right-back and playing in all but three games in the league.
And according to TuttoJuve’s report, Mikel Arteta sees him as the ‘ideal’ signing for Arsenal this summer.
Despite having Ben White doing brilliantly at right-back and Jurrien Timber back from injury for next season, there’s constant talk of a new full-back being signed.
Couto is also being tracked by Manchester United. Parent club City are believed to be looking for around £34m to offload the 21-year-old.
Another option for Arsenal
While Ben White has done superbly well at right-back for Arsenal and won’t be moving on anytime soon, if he is injured, Arsenal look weaker.
A player like Couto, who at 21 has time to develop and get even better, would give Arsenal a player in the position who is more of a natural and given his attacking output this season, give the Gunners a more direct threat from right-back.
Couto – dubbed ‘outstanding‘ after his performances in La Liga – would probably argue he deserves a chance at Man City after this year. But they are so good at the moment he’s going to need to do something special to get in that team.
Arsenal, then, could well snap up a gem by landing the Brazilian this summer.