Arsenal are eyeing a summer swoop for Peruvian international Jhilmar Lora, who plies his trade for Sporting Cristal.
According to Football.London, Arsenal are in the market for Jhilmar Lora. It appears the north London giants have identified Lora as a potential target during their scouting mission in South America, as both Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu prioritise signing talented players on a bargain next summer.
A right-back by trade, Lora currently plies his trade with Peruvian side Sporting Cristal. He is currently regarded as one of the best full-backs in the Peruvian league, having enjoyed a swift rise to prominence since his promotion to the senior side in January 2021. He has already racked up 42 competitive appearances for the club, registering four assists.
Arsenal’s interest in Lora is hardly surprising, as the right-back department has been a particular weakness for the club this season. While the Gunners did well to bring in Takehiro Tomiyasu in the summer, the Japanese international is a more defence-minded option.
He has had his fair share of struggles with injuries since the turn of the year as well, forcing Arteta to count on Cedric Soares. The Portuguese international is not a trusted option though, prompting the club to scour the market for potential replacements in the summer.
The Gunners are among the clubs interested in the services of Torino full-back Wilfried Singo, but they are set to face stiff competition from arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Jhilmar Lora could be a useful alternative given his immense success in his native Peru over the past year or so.
At the age of just 21, the youngster has already bagged six caps for his country, and impressed with his ability to contribute to the team’s attack going forward. The fact that he is an international player should also make it easier for Arsenal to register the right-back amid newly-implemented Brexit laws that have made it difficult for English clubs to sign young talents from abroad.
Other than Lora, Arsenal have registered interest in another South American talent in the form of Enzo Fernandez. The young midfielder currently represents River Plate but could soon be destined for a move abroad, amid interest from the north London giants as well as Tottenham and West Ham United.
