Arsenal have made a move for Kieran Trippier at Atletico Madrid, The Sun on Sunday reports, with the Spanish club demanding £34m for their right-back.
Man Utd have been recently linked for the defender, but could not agree a fee with Atletico. Arsenal would now like the former Spurs defender to replace Hector Bellerin.
Would Kieran Trippier improve Arsenal? Yes, he would. He’s as good as Calum Chambers and Hector Bellerin on the attack. They each have slightly different strengths, mind, and if Arsenal are pursuing Trippier, it might be because he does what Mikel Arteta wants from his right back better than the current pair. It might also be because Trippier is significantly better than either Bellerin or Chambers defensively. Those evaluations based on these radars (Bellerin vs. Chambers | Trippier | note: they aren’t exactly the same stats in the same places so you’ve got to look closely to evaluate) from Scott Willis, @oh_that_crab.
Is Kieran Tripper the right buy for Arsenal? Probably not. For starters, he’ll be 31 in a few weeks. That doesn’t really fit with the age profile that the Gunners have been targeting this window. He’d be better than what Arsenal currently have at right back, but he’s not that much better, and certainly not £25M or more better.
Whatever Arsenal would have to pay to get him is far too expensive for a stopgap that’s going to give you two or three good seasons, if that. Marginal to medium upgrades on “fine” players is what you do if you’re trying to put your already strong, contending squad over the top. It’s not what you do during a rebuild.