Why this £21m-rated defender should choose Arsenal over Man Utd and Chelsea

Kostas Manolas is a name on several Premier League clubs’ lips ahead of the forthcoming January transfer window, including the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, according to the Metro.

The 25-year-old, who has 27 international caps for his native Greece, has already made 16 appearances in all competitions for Serie A side AS Roma so far this season.

Photo: Offside / IPP.

Manolas, who has also featured for the likes of AEK Athens and Olympiacos, is understood to be attracting the top-flight giants ahead of the new year period given the Italian club have failed to agree terms on a contract extension for the centre-half.

It is understood that the player, who is valued at around £21.25m (via Transfermarkt), wants a pay rise at the Stadio Olimpico.

So, with the Greek star on the radar of United, Arsenal and Chelsea, Shoot! takes a look at why the Roma ace should opt for the Emirates Stadium in January.

Here are our reasons…

Aid Arsenal’s tilt for the title

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Arsenal’s search for a star centre-half to partner Laurent Koscielny was solved in the summer following the arrival of Shkodran Mustafi (Above) from Valencia.

However; despite the German adapting to the Premier League in flawless fashion, the Gunners are still short on solid and reliable defensive cover.

Let’s say either, or both, Mustafi and Koscielny are ruled out for several months due to injury, next in line is Gabriel Paulista, Per Mertesacker or Rob Holding.

Gabriel has shown glimpses of his ability, but has failed to lay down a permanent good impression on manager Arsene Wenger. Mertesacker is tipped to leave Arsenal in January, or next summer, with the 32-year-old beginning to show his age. Whilst 21-year-old Holding is ‘one for the future’.

Should Arsenal lose Koscielny or Mustafi, for whatever reason, their step-in replacement wouldn’t fill Arsenal fans with confidence to a certain extent.

However, Manolas is arguably as good as the aforementioned duo, and this is us not even considering the Greek ace replacing the pair in Wenger’s starting XI!

If Arsenal are serious about lifting their first league title since 2004, top class competition in every position is required.

Long-term successor

Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

Again; referring back to Laurent Koscielny (Pictured) and Per Mertesacker’s Gunners careers, Manolas could become a key first-team figure at the Emirates Stadium straight away. If not, undoubtedly very soon!

Thirty-two-year-old Mertesacker is seemingly coming to the end of his time at Arsenal, with a return to the Bundesliga reportedly on the cards within the next two transfer windows.

Whilst, Koscielny is no spring chicken at 31, despite his continually impressive form.

So with Manolas possessing plenty of time on his side and the potential to develop even more as a centre-half, the 25-year-old would be welcomed as a long-term successor to either Mertesacker or Koscielny, or both, in the long run.

Answer Arsene’s prayers

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

It is no secret that manager Arsene Wenger has numerous times given his side’s lack of aerial presence, at either end of the pitch, as the reason to why his men failed to earn all three points, or even a point, after a match.

But with the potential arrival of Manolas, all of Wenger’s worries could be over come January – well in the first third anyway.

Strong, powerful, pacey and standing tall at 6ft 2in, the Greece international’s quality would serve him well in the fast-paced nature of the Premier League and he would become a firm favourite under the Frenchman, if he answers his prayers and agrees a switch to the Emirates Stadium in the new year.

Then, once he demonstrates his aerial threat in front of Wenger, Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny’s first-team spots may well be under threat sooner than we first examined.