Report: Arsenal actually made move to sign ‘astonishing’ 22-year-old defender before they got Zinchenko

Thu 20 October 2022 12:15, UK

Arsenal targeted signing Calvin Bassey before he moved from Rangers to Ajax this summer ahead of signing Oleksandr Zinchenko.

The report that Mikel Arteta wanted a left-sided central defender and he still wants one now.

In Zinchenko, they got a player who can play at left-back as well as filling in at the heart of midfield if required.

Bassey would have been a central defender who can play left-back, in the same mould as another summer Gunners target Lisandro Martinez.

Arsenal targeted Bassey

Bassey of course made the move from Ibrox to Amsterdam, taking the spot in the side which was vacated by Lisandro joining Manchester United.

The report says that Pablo Mari is expected to leave this summer, with Gabriel the only left-sided central defensive option in the squad right now.

Bassey is now playing Champions League football with Ajax and that is where Arsenal are looking to get themselves back to.

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The Nigeria international also impressed in Rangers’ run to the Europa League final last season and shone despite the defeat in Seville.

“Calvin Bassey, my word, what a performance,” Owen Hargreaves told BT Sport – via – following that game.

“That was astonishing, the energy and effort. Everything about his game was fantastic.

“Anyone watching that will be thinking: ‘That’s the kind of player I want in my team’.”