Arsenal and Juventus are set to wage a battle for Evan Ndicka in January, with Eintracht Frankfurt willing to sell the centre-back.
According to the Evening Standard, Arsenal are open to signing Evan Ndicka in January. The Premier League leaders have tense competition from Juventus for the French defender. Eintracht Frankfurt are pondering on selling him in the next window as Mikel Arteta seeks a new left-sided centre-back.
Evan Ndicka has been a consistent figure at the back for Eintracht Frankfurt since joining the Bundesliga club in 2018. His impressive displays helped the club win the Europa League last season. And while his performances have not been up to the mark overall this term, a move away from the club could be on the cards.
Frankfurt are evaluating Ndicka’s future ahead of the January window. The 23-year-old defender’s contract expires next summer, which could see him depart on a free transfer. January is the only time the Bundesliga side could recoup some transfer fees, as interest is rife in the defender.
Juventus are reportedly keen on signing the defender. For one, they are seeking financially viable transfer alternatives. Secondly, there is a dire need to improve their defence. After a disastrous start, Massimiliano Allegri could make do with a new centre-back as they are yet to replace Matthijs de Ligt sufficiently.
Ndicka has proven his worth over the years, and his age profile leaves plenty of room for development. The big hurdle for Juventus is the interest from Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta keen on a new left-sided centre-back.
Arsenal have topped the Premier League and remain dominant in the Europa League. While they have managed to be relatively injury-free, there are concerns about the lack of depth in several key areas of the squad. One such area is the central defensive position, where Arteta has struggled to rotate this term.
Arteta wanted a left-sided player to compete with Gabriel Magalhaes. The Brazilian has started all but one game in all competitions. The manager’s reliability on the centre-back could put the player at risk of sustaining injuries.
That is also the reason why Lisandro Martinez was targeted in the summer. Arsenal would be keen to address the issue and bring a left-sided centre-half in January. Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie also remains a target, but Ndicka’s availability on a cut-price move makes the Frenchman appealing.
Moreover, Ndicka is expected to make the next steps to upgrade his career. Apart from playing in the Premier League, the 23-year-old defender would also like a place in the French national side. A move to Arsenal, or even Juventus, would help his future a lot, but at the moment, the Gunners are a far more attractive option.
