Sevilla starlet Geoffrey Kondogbia on Arsenal radar

20-year-old Geoffrey Kondogbia’s very first season at Sevilla seems to have caught the scouting eyes of Arsene Wenger who, in a rare admission of potential transfer speculation, has identified the French youth international as his central defensive midfield answer for the 2013-2014 season. It is very unlike of Arsene Wenger to admit to a leading British newspaper that he is in the market for a player so early in the summer. It suggests that the experienced French manager is feeling the heat to spend ahead of the new season. According to The Sun, Wenger was quoted as saying,

“I don’t really want to talk about Kondogbia too much because everyone’s after him at the moment.

“When you ask ‘Are you also interested?’ what do you expect me to say?”

Having joined Sevilla from Lens only last summer, many potential buyers have been alerted by the French boy’s work rate and holding capabilities this season. His physical and mental aspects are so astute that the 6ft 2 in player has a potential release clause of 17 million pounds. What has impressed Arsene Wenger most is the very dynamic nature of Kondogbia’s midfield play, and his mobility in the air to win difficult balls in front of the defense makes him tailor-made for the Premier League. Despite his immense talent as a holding midfield player, it is still to be proved whether the player of central African descent can cope with offensive minded play which the Gunners specialize in. And if indeed Arsene Wenger does splash the cash for Geoffrey Kondogbia in the summer, questions might arise why the club had to look at Sevilla when West Ham’s Mohamed Diame is at close hands with an impressive Premier League pedigree. It is not a secret that Wenger is an admirer of the Senegalese international and Arsenal were close to signing him in the January transfer window. But if Geoffrey Kondogbia can cost 17 million pounds, what is wrong with the 25-year-old Diame at just 3.5 million pounds; the latter is a also tremendous threat offensively in addition to his holding midfield qualities!

Is Wenger resorting to his age old tradition of identifying raw young talents for the future? Don’t forget, time is running out for the Professor to deliver a silverware at the Emirates. With a prospective 70 million pounds transfer war chest to spend in the summer, Champions League qualification would determine which players come in and with names such as Stevan Jovetic and Alessandro Matri being linked with moves to North London, the name of one Geoffrey Kondogbia has certainly raised a few eyebrows. Although the youngster is full of potential, as is being displayed in the tough environment of La Liga, signing him would be a gamble as Mikel Arteta last night showed how to nullify the threat of even the champions Manchester United by winning every ball in the holding area.

Geoffrey Kondogbia, though, is a genuine future for French football and that is why Arsene Wenger is so interested to call early in his chase for a physically strong holding midfielder who can drive the game for the Gunners in an area where they have struggled to replace the irreplaceable Alex Song. Kondogbia can win aerial duels and most importantly is not afraid to get in a tackle that could win games for Arsenal at places such as Stoke, Wigan, West Ham, Newcastle; places or grounds where the Gunners have struggled traditionally since the days of Patrick Viera and Robert Pires. At such a young age of 20, Geoffrey Kondogbia can read the game and in his area of holding midfield as a support in front of the back four, this is the most important aspect which Arsenal have lacked in recent times. Stats say his interceptions are god gifted which make up over 60 per cent of his defensive qualities.

This could be the reason why Wenger has deviated from his normal attitude of waiting to find out whether the targeted player would be coming to the Emirates before going public to race ahead of other suitors. Arsenal, for the past few seasons, have lost to rivals on bringing the best players by failing to act early and the 63-year old is certainly ready to rectify that as the much suffering Arsenal fans look forward to the next season in earnest.

With just a few weeks left till the end of the current campaign and a lot still to be played before, Arsenal can be guaranteed of Champions League football next season. Arsene Wenger is determined to make a statement of intent by bringing the best talents to the Emirates who will deliver the silverware that this club have been deprived of for so long.