Arsenal and West Ham United are reportedly keen on signing 23-year-old Croatian defender Josip Sutalo.
A report from Fiorentina News claims that Arsenal and West Ham United are willing to pay around €20 million for Dinamo Zagreb defender Josip Sutalo.
The 23-year-old has been a key player for his club, and he could prove to be a quality long-term acquisition for the two London clubs. Arsenal have recently completed the signing of Jurrien Timber, and it remains to be seen whether they are ready to sign another central defender before the summer transfer window closes.
The Gunners could definitely use more quality and depth in the defensive unit. Injuries at the back allowed Manchester City to overtake Arsenal in the title race last season, and the Gunners will be hoping to avoid a similar situation this time around.
Sutalo could prove to be a quality addition to the Arsenal backline, and he will add depth to the squad. The opportunity to play for a big club like Arsenal will be hard to turn down and the Croatian is likely to be tempted to join the Gunners.
Meanwhile, West Ham are interested in the 23-year-old as well. The Hammers looked quite vulnerable defensively last season, and they need to improve their defensive unit heading into the new season.
Sutalo would be an excellent acquisition for them. If they can sign him for the reported €20 million-plus offer, the deal could look like a bargain in the long run. The Croat is likely to improve with coaching and experience in the coming seasons.
The 23-year-old defender has the potential to develop into a reliable Premier League defender and it will be interesting to see where he ends up. Arsenal are certainly the bigger club and they have the financial resources to get the deal done as well. Furthermore, they will be competing in the UEFA Champions League next season.
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So the player could be tempted to join them in order to compete at the highest level. Meanwhile, West Ham have the financial resources to sign the player as well, especially after the departure of Declan Rice. The Hammers will compete in the Europa League next season and they need quality players to do well in Europe.
