Malang Sarr is a free agent after leaving Nice last month (Getty Images)
According to Marca (h/t The Express), Arsenal have made an approach for French defender Malang Sarr, who is now a free agent after seeing off his contract with Nice last month.
Sarr, 21, came through the ranks of Nice’s youth system and excelled for the club’s youth squads before getting promoted to the senior team in the summer of 2016. He immediately established himself at the heart of Nice’s defence and was a key member of the squad.
He went on to make 119 appearances for the French outfit before becoming a free agent. He has also come through various age-group levels with France and is one of the most coveted free agents at the moment.
His impressive performances have also garnered the attention of Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, as per the report. Thus, the Gunners should make a move for the centre-back at the earliest.
Arsenal’s defence has been shaky throughout the campaign and their defensive unit has failed to live up to the expectations. The departure of Laurent Koscielny did leave a huge void at the back and summer signing David Luiz was supposed to lead their defence.
But the Brazilian has failed miserably, becoming prone to errors. As a result, the Gunners have conceded 51 goals in the league so far, which is poor according to their standards.
Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis have also failed to find form and have been inconsistent, while Rob Holding and Calum Chambers have missed the majority of the campaign due to injuries. They did buy Pablo Mari but the Spaniard has also fallen victim to an injury. Thus, a centre-back is a must in the summer. William Saliba is set to be available for next season but he is too young to lead their backline.
In that regard, signing Sarr would be a fantastic move by the club. The French U21 international initially struggled at the start of the season but soon became a regular member of the squad. He has shown immense potential despite his tender age and also earned the captain’s armband on several occasions this term.
His inclusion to Arteta’s squad would definitely provide them with some much-needed depth, whilst also bringing healthy competition. Given Luiz (33) and Sokratis (32) are ageing, he could fill the gaps in their place in the future.
It is clear that Arsenal are in dire need of centre-backs and making a move for Sarr would be a wise decision. And if he is able to develop himself under Arteta’s guidance, he could also be a crucial player for them in the long run.
