According to media reports, North London giants Arsenal are allegedly clear to seal a transfer deal for a player of Borussia Dortmund after the Bundesliga side agreed to land his replacement.
German side announce replacement
Borussia Dortmund’s football director, Michael Zorc, has said that the side will bring in Abdou Diallo for around €25m to replace Greece international Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who is expected to join Arsenal.
The report claims that the experienced Greek defender’s move to the North London club is virtually sealed and that the Gunners have agreed a reported £16million transfer deal for Sokratis Papastathopoulos.
Arsenal wanted defender under Wenger
Abdou Diallo, ironically, had also become a transfer target for the Gunners and was much talked about as a possible winter arrival, after being specially recommended to former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger by club scout Sven Mislintat.
According to reports at that time, Diallo’s side, French club Mainz, had told the Arsenal that the reliable defender would cost them about £26million and that the North Londoners baulked at the transfer fee.
Diallo is now prepared to sign a 5-year contract at the German Bundesliga club, while newly appointed Spanish tactician Unai Emery will upgrade his centre-half with the acquisition of Papastathopoulos.
