Arsenal are interested in Lukas Klostermann, as per German publication Bild via Diario AS.
The Gunners have reportedly targeted the RB Leipzig right-back this summer in an attempt to improve a weak defensive unit which conceded 51 times in the Premier League last season, though La Liga giants Atletico Madrid were also touted as a potential suitor too.
Leipzig, for their part, aren't thought to be interested in selling the German international, according to the report.
As it stands Arsenal will be relying on Hector Bellerin, who missed 25 games last season through a cruciate ligament injury, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Calum Chambers, who recently returned from a stint with relegated side Fulham when it comes to deploying a right-back.
Considering Bellerin is touted to miss the opening several weeks of the upcoming campaign, perhaps it’s in Arsenal’s best interests to secure a solid replacement to ensure the foundations are in place for a solid start.
Indeed, while Maitland-Niles made 11 appearances (per Transfermarkt) as a right-back last season, he told Sky Sports (via the Mirror) in January that he saw himself as a winger and Stephan Lichtsteiner has obviously departed.
To that end, and at 23-years-of-age, it's easy to see why Klostermann is apparently of interest to an Arsenal side who are currently trying to negotiate in the market with a meagre £45m budget, according to the Daily Mail.
According to WhoScored, he produced an average 1.9 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 2.4 clearances last season, which is comparatively more than what Arsenal’s Bellerin managed in the seven fewer appearances he made (0.8 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 1.7 clearances, respectively).
The German had an impressive season last term for RB Leipzig. Making 26 appearances in total, he played a key part in a side who boasted the best defensive record in the league, having conceded just 29 times (keep in mind, a total of 973 goals were scored in the Bundesliga in 2018-19).
Former Gunner Charlie Nicholas did call for defensive additions (when speaking to Sky via the Daily Express) and, while he did suggest he'd keep Bellerin, the lack of options outside of the Spaniard coupled with his injury make it fairly easy to see why these links have emerged.
Arsenal fans, do you think Klostermann would be a good signing? Can he replace Bellerin? Let us know in the comments below…