Arsenal have reportedly taken the first step to sign Jerome Boateng on a free transfer in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Transfer Market Web, Arsenal have submitted an enquiry with Jerome Boateng’s representatives to complete a Bosman move in the summer transfer window. The soon-to-be free agent is also the subject of interest from Sevilla, Juventus and AS Roma.
Jerome Boateng is currently in his tenth season with Bayern Munich, having arrived at the Allianz Arena from Manchester City in the summer of 2011. In the decade that has gone past, the veteran German centre-back has been one of the best defenders on show in the Bundesliga and is viewed as a stalwart for Die Roten.
Till date, Boateng has made 355 appearances for Bayern Munich, even chipping in with 10 goals and 25 assists. However, the 32-year-old has no future at the Allianz Arena, with the player set to depart the club as a free agent once his contract ends this summer. This has alerted Arsenal among others.
The interest from Arsenal comes as a tad bit surprising, considering Mikel Arteta has been looking to reduce the average age of his squad. With one veteran defender in David Luiz already facing an uncertain future at the Emirates, it will be interesting to see how someone like Boateng would fit in at the club.
Boateng’s fellow Bundesliga defender Dan-Axel Zagadou is another player who has been linked with the Gunners, and his capture makes much more sense. With the likes of Rob Holding and Calum Chambers becoming rotations options, Gabriel Magalhaes and Pablo Mari are the only other regular options currently at Arteta’s disposal, apart from Luiz.
Therefore, it is not hard to see why Arsenal might be in the transfer market for a centre-back in the summer transfer window. And, the north Londoners seem to have taken the first step to secure the services of Boateng, having made an approach to secure his services on a free transfer this coming summer.
Apart from Arsenal, the likes of Sevilla, Juventus and AS Roma are all keen on signing Boateng as well and it remains to be seen if the Gunners can beat the competition to secure his signature in the summer. For now, what is certain is that Boateng is set to leave Bayern Munich after a decade with the Bundesliga champions.