Arsenal set to make a move for Fernando Calero to replace Rob Holding
According to the Sun, Arsenal have set their sights on Real Valladolid centre-back Fernando Calero ahead of the January transfer window as Unai Emery look to replace the injured Rob Holding. The Englishman suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the 2-2 draw against Manchester United and is ruled out for the rest of the season.
Calero, who is rated at £10 million by the Spanish outfit, has been in impressive form this season. The 23-year-old was instrumental in the club’s promotion-winning season in the Segunda Division last year and has made a name for himself in the La Liga as well. The Spaniard has featured 15 times for Valladolid in the La Liga this season, being part of a solid backline that has only conceded 15 goals in 15 games.
Standing at 6ft., Calero might not be the tallest of centre-backs but he makes up for it with his superior positional play and game awareness at the back. He is a really good reader of the game, which allows him to cut out the attacks with crucial tackles and interceptions. Arsenal are in pole position to land the young Spaniard but they will face stiff competition from the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Valencia in January.
Meanwhile, Arsenal stretched their unbeaten run to 22 games across all competitions with a 1-0 victory over Qarabag in the Europa League on Thursday night. The game also marked the return of Laurent Koscielny from a long-term Achilles injury.
The Gunners currently sit 5th in the Premier League standings and they need a replacement for Holding to prevent a potential burn out of options at the back. Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi continues to be Emery’s first-choice centre-backs but the north Londoners do not have the best defensive record amongst the top-five teams.
