Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing 19-year-old Italian full-back Michael Kayode from Fiorentina.
A report from Calciomercato claims that Fiorentina defender Michael Kayode is a target for North London club Arsenal, and they could look to make a move for him soon. But La Viola want to tie him to a new contract.
The 19-year-old defender is versatile enough to operate as the right-sided full-back as well as on the left. He could be an asset for Mikel Arteta in the long run. He has shown his quality for Fiorentina, and the opportunity to move to the Premier League could be hard to turn down for him.
It would be an exciting step up in his career and he would get to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world. Meanwhile, Arsenal could definitely use more quality in the full-back positions.
Arteta has had to use Ben White as his right-back since last season, and he needs more depth at his disposal. The arrival of Kayode will allow him to rotate his squad and keep the players fresh. It remains to be seen whether Fiorentina are prepared to sell the player during the January transfer window.
Arsenal will want to compete for the Premier League title and do well in the UEFA Champions League this season. They need a deeper squad to match up to the European elite and must bring in the right reinforcements in January to boost their chances of doing well this season.
Kayode certainly has the quality to make an instant impact, and it remains to be seen how the situation develops. The talented young defender certainly has the ability to shine at a big club like Arsenal and someone like Arteta could nurture him into a reliable first-team player.
The Spanish manager has done well to nurture the talented young players at Arsenal, helping players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli develop into Premier League stars. Kayode has a contract at Fiorentine until the summer of 2025, and La Viola have the option to extend his deal for another year. They are under no pressure to sell him just yet and Arsenal might have to pay a premium to secure his signature.