Arsenal have identified Atlético Madrid’s Marc Pubill as a target for this summer.
That’s according to AS, who explain why Arsenal are keen and their plan to sign the 23-year-old.
Injuries to Williams Saliba and Jurriën Timber have seen the Gunners work on improving their defence.
The Premier League winners are ready to take action to sign Jules Koundé if he were to decide to leave Barcelona. The France international, like Pubill, can operate as a right-back and in the heart of defence.
New target for Arsenal
The latest updates elsewhere have talked about the north London club’s interest in Marc Pubill. AS backs it up and shares their own updates on Atlético Madrid and the defender’s stance.
He left UD Almería for the La Liga side a year ago and only showcased his qualities this year. His impressive performances helped him make his debut for Spain in March and he represented them at the World Cup.
Arsenal eliminated Los Rojiblancos in the Champions League semi-final. Pubill started as a centre-back in the first leg and played as a right-back in the return leg at the Emirates.
His performances in these two matches were enough to convince Mikel Arteta, who has asked Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta to sign him.
Arsenal were ready to make advances
In order to please the manager, Andrea Berta made contact, and the Madrid club quickly rejected Arsenal’s approach.
AS states: ‘The player feels, as of today, a strong connection to the project, the club, and the place the fans have already given him.’
Atlético Madrid have declared him non-transferable, and Marc Pubill has no plans to leave. In fact, the former’s desire is to offer him a new contract. A renewal would make it more complex for any club to sign him in the near future.
With Mikel Arteta a big fan of the Spain international, Arsenal were ‘prepared to break the bank’ to sign him. However, Diego Simeone’s side are refusing to sell and there won’t be any movements this summer.
