Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are interested in signing Mathias Olivera from Getafe in the summer transfer window and have already made a bid for the left-back..
THE LOWDOWN: IMPRESSIVE SEASON
The Uruguayan international has enjoyed an impressive season in the Spanish La Liga.
Olivera has featured in 32 league games this season, scoring once and assisting three times. His solid performances at the back have gained plenty of attention from clubs across the continent, including the Premier League.
His defensive solidity is considered an asset by these suitors, who also include Napoli with the Italian giants also strongly linked with the player.
THE LATEST: PLENTY OF INTEREST
According to Tutto Mercato Web, Olivera is attracting plenty of interest from clubs across the continent, including Arsenal.
Getafe are keen on selling the player only if suitors are willing to pay the €20m (£17.1m) release clause attached to his contract.
THE VERDICT: TOP SIGNING
Getafe’s €20m (£17.1m) asking price may not represent a problem for the Gunners, in fact acquiring the Uruguayan star for such a fee could represent an absolute bargain.
Olivera promises to become one of the top left-backs in La Liga, and has already sent shockwaves across the country for his tremendous performances all season.
Indeed, he’s been given an impressive SofaScore rating of 6.98 this season, from 32 starts in Getafe colours, making him the third-highest ranked star Míchel’s squad.
In fact, the £13.5m-rated destroyer has propelled himself to become one of La Liga’s best defenders, and his numbers this season make for tremendous reading.
As per FBref, he’s registered the tenth most tackles won of any Spanish top-flight player (53), the seventh-most pressures (650), the ninth-most interceptions (70), the eight-most aerial duels won (131) through his lanky 6 foot 1in frame and has also impressively recorded the most blocks of any player (85) highlighting his superb all-action defending for a mid-table side who have only conceded 41 times all season – the eighth least in the division.
The Montevideo-born defender has contributed a huge part in that, and amongst full-backs in Europe over the past 365 days, he also excels considerably for his defensive numbers, ranking in the top 1% for pressures per90 (20.87), top 3% for blocks (2.73) and the 1% for aerial duels won (4.21), these metrics are all substantially greater than Arsenal’s current left-back options in Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares, and shows just how much Olivera could improve the Gunners squad.
If Arteta aims to strengthen his options at left-back this summer, then acquiring the signature of the Uruguayan international represents a top calibre signing.
AND in other news, Arsenal make contact to sign “quality” £36m-rated dynamo, he won’t cost KSE a penny…