Arsenal Transfer News: Kostas Manolas, Phil Jones Rumours Emerge Before Deadline

By Matt Jones , Featured Columnist

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Arsenal have reportedly been keeping tabs on AS Roma centre-back Kostas Manolas, as the club continue to search for a solution to their defensive problems.

According to Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail, Arsenal had a scout at the Stadio Olimpico for the Giallorossi’s clash with FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. Manolas was unable to help his team through to the group stage, as Roma fell to a 3-0 loss on the night, 4-1 on aggregate.
It’s noted by Mokbel that the defender “has been on the club’s radar for over two years” and with a deal for Valencia’s Shkodran Mustafi looking doubtful, the Gunners checked on the progress of the 25-year-old. Here is a glimpse of what he’d bring to English football:
With Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista both sidelined with injury issues, manager Arsene Wenger needs to add a commanding presence to the base of his team. Throughout his time in Italian football, Manolas has shown he is someone who ticks that particular box.
As these numbers from OptaPaolo show, when it comes to battles in the air, the Greece international is extremely dominant:

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The Gunners do have Calum Chambers to call upon in this area of the field, while 20-year-old Rob Holding has started both of Arsenal’s games so far.
However, if the Gunners are to achieve their short-term goal of clinching the Premier League title, they need to bring in a player who’ll improve the team in the present, not the future.
Manolas would certainly do that, although prising him away from his current employers could prove to be a difficult ask. Already this summer Roma have lost a key part of their spine with the sale of Miralem Pjanic; the departure of their star defender would arguably be just as detrimental.
     

Arsenal Interested in Phil Jones

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According to Sam Wallace of the Daily Telegraph, Arsenal are interested in landing Manchester United’s out-of-favour centre-back Phil Jones.
It’s suggested the England international defender has been told by the Red Devils that his immediate future will be at Old Trafford. However, according to Wallace, Arsenal consider the former Blackburn Rovers man as an option to solve their defensive crisis.
“Under current market conditions, Jones would be valued at around £20 million to £25 million by United were they prepared to do business,” the piece continued.
Having signed Eric Bailly from Villarreal this summer, Jones has fallen further down the defensive pecking order at Old Trafford, with Daley Blind and Chris Smalling also seemingly ahead of the 24-year-old. Football journalist Liam Canning believes it’d be to the benefit of all parties if the player moved on:
Jones isn’t the most illustrious defender and given the recent deterioration in his stock, he isn't someone who'd quicken the pulse of those frequenting the Emirates Stadium. Even so, there’s a fine centre-back there, provided he can stay fit and his skills can be harnessed in the right way.
Stoke City are also interested in Jones, according to Wallace, and they’re the type of club that should be taking a chance on restoring the United man to his best. Arsenal, given the scale of their ambition, must be looking to a defender who's already the finished article.