Arsenal face Tottenham & Juventus competition for £15m right-back

When the summer transfer window comes around all focus will be on Arsenal signing the centre-forward and central midfielder that can elevate this team to the next level.

Names including Fabian Ruiz have been listed as targets, while Alexander Isak continues to be mentioned, but those aren’t the only positions Mikel Arteta will look to bolster.

Cedric has surprised all over the past three matches. Filling in for the injured Takehiro Tomiyasu, the right-back has put in three solid displays in a row across the month of February, helping Arsenal secure nine points from nine.

Still with a contract until 2024 despite turning 31 years old in August, it’s widely thought that if a buyer can be found he will be moved on to make room for a younger option in the squad.

Arsenal face Tottenham, Milan & Juventus competition for Wilfried Singo as Mikel Arteta eyes £15m Torino right-back summer transfer

Tomiyasu has been exceptional since his arrival, and sourcing a backup, or even potential competition, for him is among the areas to look at if Cedric can be sold. Or, if indeed Arteta wants to sell him.

There hasn’t been much in the way of speculation around the right-back targets, but one has emerged courtesy of Fabrizio Romano on CBS Sports. The well-known journalist has revealed that scouts from both Arsenal and Tottenham have been tracking Torino’s right-back Wilfried Singo on ‘countless occasions’.

The 21-year-old has been with the Turin club since the summer of 2019 when he joined from Ivorian side Denguélé, going on to make 58 appearances for the club and firmly establishing himself as first choice.

It’s an interesting link for Arsenal as Singo profiles differently to the current first choice in north London. In Ivan Jurić’s side he lines up as a right wing-back, much like Djed Spence, where he is given licence to play in the opposition half when an emphasis on carrying as opposed to covering. Compared to his Serie A counterparts, he is 80th percentile or above for dribbles completed, touches in the attacking third and carries into the penalty area.

This is obviously in contrast to Tomiyasu, who is more reserved in his style, but there are similarities in terms of aerial dominance with the 6’2″ Singo in the 94th percentile for aerials won. His 9.04 ball recoveries p/90 is also among the top six percent in Serie A.

How Arteta envisages using Singo would be interesting. He has played in a flat back four before, as well as on the right of a back three, but as with having Cedric and Tomiyasu in the squad, some variance in his options could be in the thinking.

Calcio Mercato – who also list AC Milan and Juventus as keen – mention the price for the Ivory Coast defender sits at around £15m, largely due to his current deal running until 2023 with the option of an additional year. However, if he continues his fine form this season, where he’s netted three goals and registered four assists in 25 league outings, his asking price could continue climbing.