Thilo Kehrer in action for Germany. (imago Images)
According to a report by French outlet Foot Mercato (h/t The Mirror), Arsenal are ‘considering’ making a move for PSG defender, Thilo Kehrer. The German is facing an uncertain future at the French side after the arrival of Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid. This means Kehrer could fall down the pecking order at Parc des Princes.
Kehrer signed for PSG three years back in 2018 from Bundesliga side, FC Schalke. He has more or less been a regular starter since then, apart from the games he has missed due to injury issues. With Mikel Arteta looking to make sure that Arsenal bounce back next season, does a move for Kehrer make sense for the Gunners?
Mikel Arteta does not have a whole lot of quality centre-backs at his disposal right now at the Emirates. Gabriel Magalhaes, Rob Holding, and Calum Chambers make up their defensive line, with Pablo Mari also in the mix. The Spaniard, however, has failed to impress at Arsenal since his move from Flamengo.
He has recurring injury issues and when fit, he is usually not trusted by Mikel Arteta to start. On the other hand, 26-year-old Englishman Chambers is on a contract that expires next year. This would induce some panic in the Arsenal backroom staff, especially when taking into account Arteta’s occasional desire of fielding a defence with three centre-backs.
On the other hand, William Saliba continues to puzzle Arsenal fans. The young Frenchman was signed from St. Etienne in a much-hyped transfer but has totally failed to make his mark on the squad. He hasn’t made a single Premier League appearance in his two seasons at Arsenal and has left the club on loan again.
After signing for the Gunners, this is his third loan spell. But in between all this drama, Arsenal are in a weak position when it comes to their defence.
They need someone with quality who has played at the top level. Kehrer has ample experience in Ligue 1 as well as the UEFA Champions League. The main thing that will help Arsenal if they sign Kehrer is the German’s versatility. A centre-back by trade, Kehrer can play at right-back as well, as he did the in 2020 UCL final.
The Gunners could lose a first-team right-back in Hector Bellerin this summer. According to Gianluca Di Marzio (h/t The Metro), Bellerin has told the club he wants to leave amid interest from Inter Milan, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, and PSG themselves. If this move happens, Kehrer has the capability of filling in at right-back for Arteta.
With just two years left on his contract, there is a chance that the Gunners could have some sort of an upper hand in any potential negotiations. Kehrer presents himself as a possible solution for an Arsenal side looking to plug a couple of holes in their backline. On top of that, his age and versatility only make him a more seductive prospect for the Gunners.
