Arsenal: Nicolas Tagliafico’s “leap” more like a casual step

Arsenal are inching closer to a move for Ajax leftback Nicolas Tagliafic, who is reportedly ready to “take a leap,” but that leap isn’t very far.

Personally, I love a good astute signing, almost more than I love a barnburner of a big name deal. Something about believing in a player bought for cheap and seeing him rise up and multiply his value is so rewarding. Which is why Arsenal couldn’t be any more perfect for me. That stingy transfer policy works in my favor, selfishly speaking.

Nicolas Tagliafico is not a name that’s going to make a lot of people swoon, though to be fair, Atletico Madrid are also in on him. The 26-year-old, versatile Argentine defender has had a great time at Ajax, but is now “ready for a leap,” so they say.

But calling it a leap infers that there is significant risk involved – of falling, not making it, taking too long – and honestly, Tagliafico making the leap to the Emirates is hardly a risk. Sure, it’s a move up, but there is a degree of comfort in him seeing exactly how he fits into the club.

Tagliafico has a wonderful opportunity to slide right into a dire need at the club, not just replacing Nacho Monreal, which is tasty enough as it is, but fitting into a nice little nook as the primary challenger to Sead Kolasinac, as well as having the skills, being a central defender as well, to play as a left-footed centerback in a back three.

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Both of these things are desperately needed, and they would seemingly require two different signings – one a left back with attacking tendencies to challenge Sead Kolasinac, and one a centerback who is ideally left-footed so that the back three doesn’t always have to be such a hodge-podge of whatever defenders we just so happen to have healthy.

Tagliafico has those attacking tendencies, you can see it whenever he takes the pitch, but he also has the defensive gumption to be a viable force on the defense.

But the best part is that he isn’t expected to cost much more than £10m, which would make him such an economical signing, especially given that he is still young, that there’s really no way it could go wrong.

So don’t call it a leap. Call it more of a step. Because the alcove is there for him to settle right into.