Arsenal have reportedly joined Sevilla and Fiorentina in the race to sign Jesus Corona from FC Porto as they look to replace misfiring star, Willian.
According to a report from the Daily Mail, Premier League’s faltering giants Arsenal have set their sights on FC Porto’s Mexican international winger Jesus Corona as they look to bolster their options on the right flank.
Corona came through the youth ranks at Mexican club Monterrey and had a two-year stint with Dutch club FC Twente before he signed for FC Porto in the summer of 2015 and has been a regular fixture for the Portuguese giants in recent years. To date, the 28-year-old has racked up 269 appearances, scoring 31 goals and setting up 68 more for his teammates.
The 2020/21 campaign was a productive one for Jesus Corona as he ended the season with a tally of three goals and 13 assists from 48 games in all competitions, helping the Dragoes clinch a second-place finish in the Liga NOS along with a quarter-final run in the UEFA Champions League. The winger, though, is now entering the final year of his contract and could be set for a move away, alerting Arsenal.
The Gunners are keen on bolstering their options on the right flank heading into the new season after having seen Willian struggle last time out. The Brazilian arrived as a free agent with a big contract from Chelsea in the summer last year but proved to be one of the biggest underperformers of the campaign, failing to do anything much of note.
With Nicolas Pepe also not always consistent, the burden of creating fell largely on the young shoulders of Bukayo Saka. Arsenal, though, seem to be keen on addressing the matter, with Corona now emerging as a transfer target. What makes the Mexican an even more enticing option for Mikel Arteta & co. is that he is also adept at playing as a right-back.
Arsenal are set to offload Hector Bellerin this summer, which would open up a slot at the back. And while they have been linked with other right-backs, such as Tyler Adams of RB Leipzig, a move for Corona could allow them to add depth to two problem positions, at least on paper.
Furthermore, Corona would also be a more economical option for Arsenal as he has a release clause worth £21.4 million (€25 million) that will be active till mid-July. However, the north Londoners are set to face intense competition from La Liga giants Sevilla, while Serie A outfit Fiorentina are keen as well. It now remains to be seen if Arsenal do act on their interest in the Mexican or look at other options.