Manchester City have reportedly matched Arsenal’s €7 million pre-contract offer to Schalke left-back Sead Kolasinac
German publication Bild have reported that Manchester City are battling Arsenal to land Sead Kolasinac in the summer. The Citizens have matched the North London club’s pre-contract offer to the Schalke defender and are willing to hand him a €140,000-a-week deal.
Kolasinac has grown leaps and bounds since joining Schalke as a promising 18-year-old in 2012. Five years on, and he is now regarded as one of the best full-backs in Bundesliga, having established himself as a key player for Die Konigsblauen.
A mainstay at the back for his side, Kolasinac has played 34 times across all competitions this season, and has proven to be a dependable presence in defence. Additionally, he has made a lot of impression in the final third as well, having been a menace for opposition defences with his bombarding runs down the left flank.
That can be judged by his numbers as well, with Kolasinac producing a more than respectable return of three goals and nine assists this term. Such numbers and more have impressed some of the biggest clubs across Europe who are lining up to land him in the summer.
Juventus and AC Milan were keen on the Bosnian international, while Chelsea had a bid rejected for him on the deadline day in the winter transfer window. Now though, Arsenal and Manchester City are believed to be the front-runners in the chase for Kolasinac, with both clubs desperate to sign a left-back in the transfer window.
At Arsenal, veteran defender Nacho Monreal’s impact has been on the wane this season and the Spaniard has shown signs of age catching up to him. Monreal’s deputy, Kieran Gibbs hasn’t managed to carve out a regular place for himself either, as a result of which Arsene Wenger is keen to recruit a top quality left-back.
Recent reports had suggested that Arsenal had won the race to sign Kolasinac, having reached a Bosman agreement with him to complete the move in the summer transfer window. But, it now looks like the Gunners have competition in the form of Manchester City.
The Citizens have matched Arsenal’s €7 million-a-year pre-contract offer to Kolasinac, which is a €5 million hike on his current deal with Schalke. Indeed, City are in need to sign a left-back in the summer as well, with both Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov on the wrong side of 30.
Clichy’s deal at the Etihad Stadium runs out at the end of the season, and he is likely to leave the club. That makes Kolasinac’s possible acquisition, which will cost them a single Euro a superb piece of business.
It is now up to the 23-year-old to weigh up the two options in front of him, as he looks destined to move to the Premier League in the summer on a free transfer.
