Arsenal are reportedly interested in making a move for Derby County’s 20-year-old left-back Lee Buchanan in the summer transfer window.
According to a report from the Daily Mail, Premier League bigwigs Arsenal are eyeing a summer raid on EFL Championship club Derby County for the signing of young left-back Lee Buchanan.
Buchanan is a product of the Derby County youth academy, having been with the club since 2010. The youngster broke into the first-team last season under Phillip Cocu, making his debut in August 2019 and went on to feature six more times across all competitions.
The ongoing season, though, has been a proper breakthrough campaign for the 20-year-old, as he has made 34 appearances in the Championship, starting 28 of those, chipping in with three assists. Current Rams’ boss, Wayne Rooney, has tipped the Englishman for a bright future, going as far as calling as one of the country’s best young left-backs.
“He’s a top, top player. I’d argue he’s one of the best young left-backs in the country. And he can go to another level as well….no….he’s a real top player,” the Derby County manager said. And, it seems like Arsenal seem to share a similar opinion of Buchanan as they are now said to be interested in a summer swoop for the defender.
Arsenal have Kieran Tierney as their first-choice left-back currently. The Scotsman, though, has endured an injury-riddled spell at the Emirates since arriving in 2019. As far as backup for him goes, manager Mikel Arteta is very thin on resources. Sead Kolasinac is no longer a part of the plans and was loaned out to FC Schalke in January and is largely expected to be sold when he returns to the club.
Arsenal have previously used Ainsley Maitland-Niles as cover at both right-back and left-back but the Englishman is also set for a move away in the summer, having joined West Bromwich Albion on loan in January. Cedric Soares was tried at left-back but failed to make an impression which has now prompted Arteta to use Granit Xhaka in the position, highlighting the Gunners’ dire need for reinforcements on the left side of the defence.
To that end, the north Londoners have been linked with Feyenoord youngster Tyrell Malacia and now, Derby County’s Buchanan has also popped up on the radars of the club. The 20-year-old’s contract with the Rams runs out in 2022, so there could be a chance that Arsenal tempt the Championship club to part ways with the youngster with a significant offer. It now remains to be seen if Arteta & co. do launch an attempt for the left-back.