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Arsenal are lining up a bid for Ajax defender Nicolas Tagliafico and are well-placed to see off competition from Real and Atletico Madrid for his signature, per Marca.
Tagliafico only joined Ajax in 2018 and has made 47 appearances for the club, scoring six goals and laying on seven assists.
What’s the word?
Tagliafico has been in excellent form for Ajax this season, scoring five goals in all competitions, and has been an integral part of their run to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Indeed, the 26-year-old played 90 minutes at the Bernabeu as the Dutch side thumped Real 4-1 just last week.
His performances have reportedly drawn admiring glances from across the continent, with Marca claiming both the Gunners and Atleti are interested in acquiring the full-back, along with Los Blancos.
However, the report states that Arsenal boss Unai Emery is in the box seat to whisk him away from the Netherlands.
Tagliafico is said to be open to the prospect of a move this summer as he bids to reach the highest level of European football.
Were he to join Arsenal, Tagliafico would likely replace Nacho Monreal who, at the age of 33, is beginning to enter the Autumn of his career.
Will he adapt?
This Ajax team is a thing of beauty, blessed with skill, pace and youth, and Tagliafico has been one of the stand-out performers within it.
However, we have seen in the past that the Gunners have a patchy record of buying defenders, while the likes of Vincent Janssen and Afonso Alves have shown how difficult it can be to adapt to life in England after leaving the Eredivisie.
It will not be plain sailing for Tagliafico in the Premier League if the move comes off; he has picked up 10 yellow cards this season, seven of which have come in the Champions League, at the highest level.
If he is not capable of maintaining his discipline in Europe, he will have an even tougher time in the rough and tumble of the English top-flight, coming against lightening quick attackers and clubs who turn defence into attack with the blink of an eye.
He may well adapt to life under Emery, and a big part of that will be improving on his discipline.