Arsenal have reportedly completed a £2.2 million January deal to sign highly-rated PAS Giannina defender Konstantinos Mavropanos.
According to Greek publication Gazzetta.gr, Arsenal are set to add to their options in central defence. Konstantinos Mavropanos, a highly-rated Greek Under-21 international, who currently plies his trade for PAS Giannina, a Greek Super League outfit, is set to seal a £2.2 million transfer to Arsenal.
Mavropanos emerged from the youth setup at fellow Greek Super League side Apollon. But, the player left the team before making a single senior appearance for them, joining PAS Giannina in January, 2016 from the Apollon Under-20 side. And he hasn’t looked back since.
The player’s true breakthrough appears to be the 2017-18 campaign, with the 20-year-old becoming one of the first names on the team sheet for the Greek Super League side. 14 appearances with 3 goals shows a penchant for impact on the other side of the field as well.
It is this form that has brought forth the links connecting him with a move to Arsenal. The Gunners do appear to have enough options in central defence, with the likes of Calum Chambers, Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker and others to assist the likes of Shkodran Mustafi, Nacho Monreal – now a converted centre-back – and Laurent Koscielny.
Konstantinos Mavropanos (20) will head anything that comes his way.
A potentially refreshing trait for Arsenal fans to warm to. ?pic.twitter.com/8oUPjCJaqQ
— Scouted Football (@ScoutedFtbl) January 3, 2018
But, Chambers and Mertesacker’s dwindling form has seen Arsene Wenger’s options restricted to just one viable rotating option – Rob Holding. Also, with the Europa League knockout stages looming large over Arsenal, the manager would need to add at least another player to the position.
Arsenal were linked with David Luiz to a large extent. But, Antonio Conte has recently remarked that Chelsea are unlikely to sell any of their stars in January, which all but confirms Arsenal’s defeat in the Brazilian’s pursuit, at least as far as the January transfer window is concerned.
But, the Gunners seem to have sealed a central defensive addition, one that looks like a bargain. Mavropanos is likely to join Arsenal in a fee rumoured to be around £2.2 million. The fee looks minimal compared to the potential the towering 20-year-old possesses.
The player is similar in height and demeanour to Per Mertesacker and could be a long-term replacement for the German. However, there is a small twist, with reports that the player will immediately be loaned to Werder Bremen for the remainder of the season.
This is likely to see Arsenal look for another addition in the January transfer window in the said position, if they do end up loaning the player to Werder Bremen. Arsene Wenger has confirmed the player’s transfer and has iterated that the player will go out on loan.
The Greek though, would be delighted to join a club as enterprising as Arsenal and would hope he is able to make a name for himself at Emirates in the future.
