ARSENAL are reportedly eyeing Daley Blind for a cut-price summer transfer.
Mikel Arteta has considerably improved the Gunners’ defence since taking over from Unai Emery but may still seek further gains in the summer.
Sunday’s 4-0 win over Newcastle meant keeping consecutive league clean sheets for the first time in over ten months with faint hopes of qualifying for the Champions League still alive.
Yet missing out on Europe’s premier club competition might not impact their pursuit of Blind.
According to The Athletic, Arsenal are one of a number of teams monitoring the ex-Manchester United defender’s situation at Ajax.
As a left-footed centre-back who prefers to play on the left side of a defensive partnership, and can also play in a three-man backline, Blind is seen as a unique talent in the market.
In addition, the 29-year-old possesses great experience and could juxtapose the youthful exuberance of William Saliba.
The Frenchman is one name already in the bag for next season, when he will arrive in North London after his loan at Saint-Etienne.
Blind is reported to have a small release clause and is one of several Ajax stars tipped to join a summer exodus, prompted by Hakim Ziyech’s imminent switch to Chelsea.
A part of the team that reached last season’s Champions League semi-finals, the Dutch international has featured 28 times this season despite being sidelined with a heart condition at the turn of the year.
Fans of the English game will remember Blind from a four-year spell at Manchester United, where he won the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League.
But his final season at Old Trafford saw him fall out of favour under Jose Mourinho and struggle with an ankle injury.
