Athletic Bilbao are ready to launch a £5.6 million offer for Nacho Monreal, according to reports in Spain.
The Spanish left-back has been heavily linked with a move to the Basque club this month and, according to Fichajes.net, the La Liga club are now ready to test the Gunners’ resolve.
Monreal, who joined Arsenal from Malaga in 2013 for £8.3 million, became Arsene Wenger’s first-choice left-back last season, making 39 appearance in all competitions, and still has two years left on his existing deal at the Emirates.
However, it is thought Wenger has no intention to offer Monreal an extension and could be willing to listen to offers for the Spaniard this summer.
Despite his appearances for the club last season, many Arsenal fans, including myself to be honest, are not comfortable with Monreal at left-back. He is a decent enough player, but he can be suspect at times which leads to chances or goals being conceded. I don’t believe he is a player that you can count on, a player who is reliable and one that fans will be comfortable with.
Even if Wenger rejects offers for Monreal this summer and remains at the Emirates, I believe we need to sign a left-back before the window closes. Despite his ability, Kieran Gibbs has become injury-prone and while Monreal is decent, the Spaniard is not reliable enough.
Accept Bilbao’s £5.6 million offer and put it towards another left-back capable of cementing a place in the side – one that fans will be happy and comfortable with.
so which left back never makes a mistake? monreal was one of the best defenders in the pl last year.
Complete nonsense. Monreal is a far more accomplished player than Gibbs, particularly in possession, and was arguably our most consistent performer last season (so definitely a reliable option). He is first choice for a reason and the notion that “most fans are not comfortable with him” is simply not true.
Wenger trusts him and I am sure he will be here next season.
We need to keep him. Solid defender(way better than Gibbs) and pretty good going forward(smarter than gibbs in his attacking movement). We should let Gibbs go instead. He is no better now than he was four, five years ago.
I concur with Thenry. Monreal was was not good enough but last season, he won my confidence. He’s mastered techniques of PL. For now he’s a suitable left -back.
The report is very biased.how many leftbacks were better than Monreal last season in the PL.so now that he has settled down,he should be sold so that we can start all over again.
You are very correct. I think some people don’t like the idea of an English player sitting on the bench. Nacho was the best defender we had all season.
It would be a big mistake to sell Nacho. In my opinion he was the most consistent performer last season and he showed why we bought him in the first place. He even did a decent job when he played at the centre of our defence. Despite his lack of pace, Nacho reads the game well which is a good quality for a player. If we are to sell and get another left back, it must be Gibbs to sell as I don’t think he has the defensive qualities to command a regular place at this level.
let him go pls, find other alternatives
Whoever wrote this is an idiot. Pay him no mind and move on people. CYOG!
He is pretending to be an Arsenal fan but he is not.
There’s no single decency in monreal, he is the worst left back in EPL, he cause a lot of problem for our center back more often than any other left back in EPL, arsenal is a big team big club, more biger than player like monreal and giroud, arsenal need consistent left back this summer as much as they need midfield and striker for them to become tittle contender this season all this problem need to be address, may be they should stay not for the purpose of first team but back up in case of injury.