Arsenal: Sead Kolašinac proving to be the bargain of the summer

Sead Kolašinac has had a brilliant start to the Arsenal season. Can he keep up his performances and prove to be the signing of the season?

Since 1996 Arsène Wenger has made some outstanding bargain transfers at Arsenal. Sol Campbell and Cesc Fàbregas are just a couple examples. Wenger may be able to add another name to this long list in Sead Kolašinac.

Kolašinac didn’t cost anything, as he left his former side Schalke on a free transfer. However, he does command one of the highest wages at around £120,000 a week.

The Bosnian Tank

Kolašinac is already a fan favorite at Arsenal with his physical presence and attacking play. His forceful energy is something the Gunners have lacked since Patrick Vieira and Martin Keown.

He has dominated pacey wingers this season like Riyad Mahrez and Pedro. There aren’t many (if any) wingers in the Premier League that are as physical as him. Therefore, he should have his way on the defensive side this season.

He has also proven his worth on the attacking side. He scored in his first game in the Community Shield against Chelsea. He has already picked up two assists in the league, and has scored on his European debut for Arsenal.

Fits the left wing-back role

Kolašinac is making a combined 3.1 tackles and interceptions a game, which betters Chelsea’s standout left wing back Marcos Alonso who averages an even 3. He is also completing one key pass a game, which is equal to Alex Sandro of Juventus this season.

He has the skill set to play left wing back as he is decent on the ball, is great in the final third, and has the energy to get up and down the pitch.

Left on a free

There are few left backs who contain the skills he does. Since Wenger was able to get him on a free, it enhances his case for signing of the season. There were very few free transfers this summer. Jermain Defoe and Wayne Rooney are the only major names who left on a free.

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These players may have an impact at their club for a season or two, but they won’t have the same long-term effect at their club. Defoe and Rooney are both past 30, while Kolašinac is only 24.

Most free transfers are players who are on the brink of retirement and not in their prime. Kolašinac is in his prime and still has time to grow. There are very few players who moved on a free in their prime that affected their club for a number of years. Kolašinac has the long-term potential to do this.

Esteban Cambiasso at Inter and Sol Campbell at Arsenal are some of the players who left for free in their prime. If Campbell’s contract was not running out there would be no way for Arsenal to buy him since he played for Tottenham. Inter would have had to pay a decent amount for Cambiasso if his contract wasn’t expiring too.

Therefore, if Kolašinac’s contract was not expiring, Schalke may have wanted around £30m for him. They might have wanted even more since Manchester City were paying £50m plus for their full-backs.

Not paying a fee for him may free up more cash to spend next summer or in January on new players (hopefully).

More bargains?

With world record fees being broken each year on players like Neymar and Pogba, it is great to still see bargains being completed in the transfer market. Savvy business by Wenger can lead to success down the road.

With top quality players out there with expiring contracts in June of 2018 like Leon Goretzka and Stefan de Vrij, we may see a new Arsenal in the transfer market targeting expiring contracts instead of paying huge fees like £90m for Thomas Lemar.

Kolašinac must show consistency

Next: 5 Things Learned Against West Brom

Kolašinac has had a good start to life in North London, but in order to claim the title of transfer of the summer, he must remain consistent. If he can do this, Gooners everywhere will be raving about the Bosnian Beast for years to come.

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