Arsenal may have received a boost from reported transfer target Nicolas Tagliafico as the defender has admitted that it could be time to leave Ajax this summer.
football.london understands that head coach Unai Emery is keen to sign a left-back this summer and Who is Nicolas Tagliafico? The 'new Zanetti' who could replace Monreal and Kolasinac at Arsenal has rejected Ajax's offer of a new contract and his representative Ricardo Schlieper has said the defender is now prepared to move on.
The 26-year-old is preparing to face Juventus and the likes of Cristiano Ronalo in the Champions League on Wednesday night. This season could be the culmination of a number of years in the Dutch capital as the likes of Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt prepare to leave the club this summer.
Tagliafico seems set to join that duo in departing and has been flattered by interest from the Premier League and Arsenal, just over 12 months on from joining Ajax for £4 million.
What Ajax chief Marc Overmars has said about Nicolas Tagliafico's future amid links to Arsenal
The defender told the Mirror: “I think in the summer it could be a natural time to take the step.
“But I try not to think about taking that step just yet because we have many important games to focus on.
“Yes, it’s flattering because I think it’s the most competitive league. When you are a child, the target is to come to Europe and play in a top league like the Premier League. I came to Ajax because of the philosophy, the style of football and the club.
“I could have gone to Betis in Spain, but I knew that at Ajax I would learn and improve which made it the best step – and it’s happened as I predicted.
Who is Nicolas Tagliafico? The 'new Zanetti' who could replace Monreal and Kolasinac at Arsenal
“It was the perfect moment to come to Europe, it was late because I was 25, it’s late for a player. It was tough to take the decision, but I needed to take a risk.
“We’ve had this same plan for a long time. It’s a club that is used to selling young players so we know we have to rebuild every now and then.
"But this year especially was one of the best years because the squad and the players which got together was really good and the players, the staff and the fans are together. We’re on the same path like a family.”
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