Arsenal are interested in signing Eintracht Frankfurt defender Willian Pacho during the summer transfer window but faces competition from Liverpool.
Only signed from Royal Antwerp last summer for €9m, Willian Pacho, 22, is proving to be a bargain acquisition for Eintracht Frankfurt. The Ecuador international has been a mainstay at the back for the German side, making 24 league starts and a further eight in the Europa Conference League. He has picked up nine caps for the national team since making his debut in 2023, netting two goals thus far.
Pacho’s performances for Frankfurt have reportedly caught the attention of both Arsenal and Liverpool, with the Premier League giants adding him to their shortlist of summer targets. Having become a key player since arriving at the club, Frankfurt have no intention of letting the 22-year-old leave on the cheap this summer, having put a €60m price tag on his head.
Do Arsenal need Willian Pacho?
In William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Ben White and Jakub Kiwior, Arsenal have four central defenders currently in their ranks. Add the versatile Jurrien Timber in the mix, they have enough depth in the centre-back position. However, with White being transformed into a right-back, Kiwior majorly operating as a left-back since arriving from Spezia last year and Timber out since the first day of the campaign with an ACL damage, Mikel Arteta has fully relied on the formidable centre-back pairing of Saliba and Gabriel.
Mikel Arteta will want to reinforce his squad in the summer to take the club to the next level, but it would be surprising if he invests in another centre-half. Saliba and Gabriel are mainstays in defence, forcing Kiwior to earn his minutes from the left-back position. Apart from Kiwior, White, Timber and Tomiyasu can all play in central defence when needed. Thus, the prospect of the Gunners signing another player in that position is unlikely at the moment.
Willian Pacho, who has impressed in Frankfurt colours, is nonetheless on Arsenal’s radar. The Ecuadorian is now rated at €60m, and by the time he completes the campaign, his price tag could even rise further. Undoubtedly, he will be coveted heading into the summer window and should cost a lot of money.
So, Arsenal would be wise in addressing other areas of the pitch rather than splashing the cash on Pacho.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
