Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Argentine international Nicolas Tagliafico in the summer, but face tough competition from Atletico Madrid.
As per a report from Daily Mail, Arsenal are hoping to launch a summer move for Ajax and Argentina left-back Nicolas Tagliafico, but will have to battle Spanish heavyweights Atletico Madrid for his signing.
Tagliafico, a product of the Banfield youth academy back in his homeland of Argentina, joined Ajax in January 2018 after a three-year spell with Independiente. The 26-year-old went on to play 15 games for the Dutch giants in his debut campaign, scoring one and setting up two more.
In the ongoing season, Tagliafico has stepped it up a notch and has established himself as one of the most important players in Erik ten Hag’s side. The 12-time capped Argentine international has featured 31 times across all competitions this term, scoring and assisting five goals apiece and was one of Ajax’s star performers as they ousted Real Madrid from the UEFA Champions League.
Tagliafico’s rise in stature with Ajax and the Argentine national team hasn’t gone unnoticed with Arsenal taking a keen interest in the left-back as per the report. The Gunners have Sead Kolasinac and Nacho Monreal as the left-sided full-backs in the squad, but with the latter being 33 and in the final year of his contract, Arsenal could be seeking a replacement for the Spaniard.
However, they will have to compete with Atletico Madrid, who are also strongly interested in the services of Tagliafico. Lucas Hernandez has been heavily linked with a switch to German champions Bayern Munich and 33-year-old Filipe Luis is in the final few months of his contract with Atleti, and seems to be exit-bound with reports claiming that he has been offered to Barcelona.
This has left Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone seeking reinforcements in the left-back department and El Cholo has identified his compatriot Tagliafico as a viable target.
“If Simeone is interested in me and really wants me it means I’m doing well but the important thing now though is to think about Ajax,” Tagliafico said in an interview recently as quoted by Daily Mail, when quizzed about the rumours linking him with a switch to the Spanish capital club.
Tagliafico is contracted with Ajax till the summer of 2022, but the report claims that the Eredivisie giants would be open to a sale in the summer window for a transfer fee around the £8 million mark. It remains to be seen if Arsenal are able to stave off competition from Atletico to land the Argentine international ahead of the 2019-20 season.
