A manager who highly rates Mikel Arteta is now reportedly keen on beating this Arsenal to a rumoured £25m target for the Gunners.
The Basque coach is regarded as one of the best young managers in the European game, with Arteta transforming Arsenal from a fallen giant in 2019 to now one of the most efficiently run clubs on the planet from head to toe.
With one of the youngest squads in Europe, it’s no real wonder why Arteta now has plaudits from every level of the game, including from PSG manager Luis Enrique, who revealed at the 2022 FIFA World Cup that he ‘loves’ the Arsenal coach’s methods.
And the former Barcelona boss is now ready to beat Arsenal and Arteta to a top target this summer.
PSG add Arsenal-linked Lutsharel Geertruida to summer wishlist
According to Fabrizio Romano, PSG have joined the race to sign Feyenoord defender Lutsharel Geertruida, who is reportedly also on Arsenal’s radar, as the Dutch international looks set for a move this summer.
Romano wrote about PSG’s interest: “Lutsharel Geertruida has been added to the list of centre backs monitored by Paris Saint-Germain. Edmond Tapsoba, another name on PSG shortlist for new centre back after excellent season at Leverkusen. Premier League clubs also keen on both Geertruida & Tapsoba.”
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Labelled as a ‘powerful’ defender, Geertruida was key to Arne Slot’s success at Feyenoord over the last three seasons, where the Dutch giants won the 2023 Eredivise title and made the 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League final.
Yet for Arsenal, with PSG and Enrique now interested in signing Geertruida, there’s a real chance that the Gunners could miss out on the 23-year-old defender, who could be set for a huge move to Paris this summer.
Arsenal won’t lose sleep if they miss out on Geertruida
Geertruida has been one of the more underrated defenders in Europe in recent seasons, with the Dutch international versatile enough that he could fill a number of roles for a club like Arsenal if signed this summer.
However, the Gunners won’t lose any sleep if they miss out on Geertruida, with PSG’s interest potentially signaling the end of Arsenal’s attempt to sign the Feyenoord defender in the weeks to come.
Indeed, Geertruida is ready for the next step up in his career, and in a club as big as PSG under a manager as good as Enrique, the 23-year-old could thrive in France in the post-Kylian Mbappe era of the French giants.