Arsenal are reportedly moving closer to beating Dortmund and snapping up Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner on a free transfer.
According to Daily Mail, Stephan Lichtsteiner is moving closer to agreeing to sign for Arsenal. The Juventus defender can be signed on a free transfer and has also been on the radar of Borussia Dortmund. But, the Gunners are set to beat the Bundesliga club in pursuit of the Swiss veteran.
Stephan Lichtsteiner has been a regular fixture at Juventus since joining from fellow Serie A side Lazio in the summer of 2011. 7 Serie A titles, 3 Italian Cups and Super Cups each later, the Swiss has decided to call time on his career at Juventus, with the player set to test the Bosman agency waters from July 1 after deciding not to renew his contract at the Old Lady.
But, the veteran might not have to wait much before finding a new home, with Arsenal and Dortmund interested in his services.
At Arsenal, Unai Emery has arrived from PSG to take over the reins from departing manager and club icon and legend Arsene Wenger. And while Emery is supposed to stamp his own identity on the squad, there are reports that he has been handed a rather constrained transfer budget for the summer, a huge contrast to his time at PSG.
Still, one of the many problems Emery and Sven Mislintat would be looking to address is a lack of deputy to first-choice right-back Hector Bellerin. Ainsley Maitland-Niles was often deployed by Arsene Wenger in the said position, but the player is a natural when started in a bit advanced position, thus leaving Emery with the idea of bringing in a backup option for Bellerin, especially with the Spaniard himself being linked with a move away from Arsenal.
Lichtsteiner could be the perfect man to solve the problem. With a restricted budget, the Juventus man, who will be available on a free transfer, will thus present a signing without Emery having to delve into the transfer budget made available by the Arsenal board.
Also, at 34, and with the amount of success he has tasted during his time at Juventus, Lichtsteiner will bring in a winning mentality to the club along with his abundance of experience at the highest level of football.
Lichtsteiner is reportedly set to agree a one-year contract with Arsenal, which will come as a huge blow for Dortmund, who were also seeking a deal to bring the Swiss veteran over to the Bundesliga. Arsenal fans though, should be pleased with the potential capture, as it not only presents a quality addition to the squad, but also reflects on the shrewd business mind of Emery and Sven Mislintat.
