Arsenal are reportedly mulling over a move for Thilo Kehrer as the 24-year-old German defender faces an uncertain future at Paris Saint-Germain.
According to Foot Mercato, Arsenal are looking to take advantage of Paris Saint-Germain’s busy transfer window to prise Thilo Kehrer away from the club. The defender is facing an uncertain future in Paris, following PSG’s high profile acquisitions of Sergio Ramos and Achraf Hakimi.
Kehrer’s initial wish is to remain in the French capital. But Les Parisiens do not provide any sporting guarantees, meaning the situation could change quickly. And it has now put Arsenal on red alert, with Mikel Arteta desperate for reinforcements in the defensive department this summer.
The former Schalke prodigy initially joined PSG back in 2018 for a fee of almost €40 million. It was not a smart investment by Les Parisiens as the 24-year-old German has consistently struggled to compete with the likes of Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Thomas Meunier and even Alessandro Florenzi.
To this day, Kehrer is yet to even establish himself as a first-team regular for PSG. Despite making 94 competitive appearances, the 24-year-old is not Mauricio Pochettino’s first-choice option at centre-back or right-back. The recent addition of Sergio Ramos and Achraf Hakimi may see him fall further down the pecking order.
However, Arsenal seem to value Kehrer, particularly due to his versatility. Although a centre-back by trade, the PSG star can operate as a right-back, which is an appealing prospect for Mikel Arteta, as he looks forward to life without Hector Bellerin, who has been linked with a move to Inter Milan.
The Gunners have recently brought in Nuno Tavares from SL Benfica. But the Portuguese is expected to mainly cover Kieran Tierney at left-back. Kehrer, in that regard, should be a sensible investment as the German can not only replace Bellerin but also compete with Gabriel Magalhaes, Rob Holding and Pablo Mari at centre-back.
Arsenal have been primarily linked with a move for Ben White this summer. But it appears they are finding it increasingly difficult the secure the services of the Brighton & Hove Albion defender, who is expected to cost a fortune.
Kehrer is unlikely to be a cheap option either, as PSG would want to recoup a large portion of the €40 million they spent in 2018. But with the 24-year-old defender’s contract expiring in 2023, Pochettino might be forced to cash in for a cut-price figure this summer.
