According to The Daily Mail, Arsenal are interested in signing Porto star and experienced Mexican international Jesus Corona this summer.
The 28-year-old is a bit of a hero at the Estadio do Dragao having played over 250 games for Porto over the last six years. He is a fan-favourite there, but it is looking very likely that he will leave this summer.
Corona scored three goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions last season. That’s a very decent record and it is no surprise that multiple clubs are interested in his services.
The report claims that Arsenal are battling Sevilla and Fiorentina to sign Corona this summer. The Mexican has a £21.4 million release clause in his contract, which makes him affordable, but that clause will expire in about a month’s time.
Jesus Corona could replace Hector Bellerin at Arsenal
Corona mostly played as a winger last season, but that’s probably not why Arsenal want him. The Gunners are likely to be more interested in his ability to play at right-back, a role he excelled in back in the 2019/20 season.
He mostly played as a right-back that campaign and he ended that season with four goals and a staggering 21 assists in all competitions. That is an outrageous return, and that could well have caught Mikel Arteta and Edu’s attention.
Arsenal are set to lose Hector Bellerin this summer. The Spaniard will likely leave the Emirates soon and the Gunners need an attack-minded replacement. Corona’s numbers show that he is capable, but is he really the one for Arteta?
The Insider’s View:
Corona can play on both wings and as a right-back, which makes him an excellent option for any manager. However, Arsenal should stay as far away from him as possible.
The Mexican will turn 28 already and he’s yet to play a single game in one of Europe’s top-five leagues. It’s one thing being the king in the Portuguese top-flight but it’s a whole different story to replicate that in the Premier League, especially when you’re nearing 30.
That should convince Arsenal to stay away from Corona, even though he has picked up way more assists in his last three seasons (49) than Bellerin has in his entire Arsenal career (36).
Read more: Arsenal legend Michael Thomas tells Edu exactly who he should sign this summer
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