Arsenal monitor Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konate

Arsenal scouts have attended RB Leipzig’s games to monitor their defender Ibrahima Konate. 

Arsenal’s defence was all over the place against Manchester City in their 3-1 loss at Etihad on Sunday. Unai Emery knows there is plenty of room for improvement in the defensive side of the game as the Spaniard is forced to work what he has at disposal currently.

The Gunners are a different side with Hector Bellerin, but without the right full-back, they get wrecked through the right side of the defence. That was the case when Raheem Sterling kept on tormenting Stephan Lichsteiner in the absence of Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

On the other hand, they do not have proper centre-backs. Only Sokratis has been half decent so far and the likes of Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny have struggled to live up to their expectations. English centre-back Rob Holding was another player who was thriving under the management of Unai Emery, but he is forced to watch the game from the sidelines as he is ruled out for rest of the season.

There is no doubt that the Gunners boss will be looking for reinforcements in the forthcoming transfer window to ease the pressure among the forwards who are expected to score at least two to win a game.

According to the German publication SportBild, Arsenal are continuously watching RB Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konate. The report adds on that the Gunners boss has sent scouts to watch week in week out as they prepare to lure him to the Emirates.

The French International, who moved to the German outfit in 2017 has been significant for Ralph Ragnick’s side. His partnership with another young defender Dayot Upamecano has been a treat to watch over the last two years.

The report adds on that Chelsea and West Ham are the other two sides keen on the defender. It has been a tough start for both Chelsea and Arsenal defensively who look increasingly likely to spend a hefty sum on the defenders to head into the next season.

The 19-year-old has a contract until 2023 with the German outfit. Any fee around 40 million would be enough to seal the deal for the youngster. There is no doubt that the Gunners are preparing to strengthen their backline, but the case remains if Unai Emery would go for another inexperienced defender in the future.