Arsenal Opinion: Why the Gunners should go all out to sign Dennis Praet?
According to Italian news outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, Arsenal are keeping close tabs on Sampdoria midfielder Dennis Praet. (h/t The Metro)
Dennis Praet, 25, had a good season with Sampdoria, bagging two goals and three assists in 34 Serie A appearances. He helped Sampdoria to a ninth-placed finish in the table, thus catching the attention of Arsenal.
The Gunners manager Unai Emery is expected to take a dip in the transfer market for players that can improve his squad. He did miss out on a top-four finish in his first season at the Emirates, but the Spanish tactician can achieve Champions League football next term by winning the Europa League final against Chelsea.
Emery will only have around £40 million to spend on new recruits if Arsenal fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League, which simply tells how important it is for the north London giants to get into Europe’s elite competition. Regardless of what happens in the Europa League final in Baku, the Gunners boss has to buy smart in the summer transfer window, with defensive reinforcements at the top of the priority list.
Replacing Aaron Ramsey ahead of the new season also needs to be done at the Emirates. Ramsey will move to Juventus as a free agent after the Europa League final. His departure will leave a huge hole in the Arsenal squad which Emery must fill this summer. And Sampdoria star Dennis Praet fits the bill.
Praet’s style of play is one that suits Arsenal. The Belgian is an excellent passer of the ball, proficient at finding pockets of spaces and dictating play. He’s also not afraid to take on defenders and dribble his way into the final third before slipping in passes for the forwards to feast upon. The 25-year-old can play in different positions across the midfield and still be effective—just like Ramsey.
The ex-Anderlecht man constantly looks to unsettle the opposition with continuous rampaging runs in the box. He is a tireless worker who can make late runs into the box with or without the ball and come up with important goals, although he isn’t as prolific as Ramsey is. But Praet is box-to-box midfielder with many similarities to the Welshman’s style of play.
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The potential acquisition of a player of Praet’s quality will undoubtedly improve Emery’s squad at the Emirates Stadium. He will not only add more goals to the Arsenal midfield but will also increase their creativity from the centre of the park.
Verdict
The Belgian has the quality and the hunger required to taste success in the Premier League. Thus, it makes a lot of sense for Arsenal to raid Sampdoria for Praet, a year after signing Lucas Torreira from the Italian club.
