ARSENAL, CHELSEA IN FACE-OFF FOR PAPASTATHOPOULOS

Media reports claim that Arsenal is keeping close tabs on SokratisPapastathopoulos, Borussia Dortmund’s centre-back.

Football news outlet Goalhas it that in order to sign on the player, Arsenal will be met with stiff competition from fellow London rivals, Chelsea.

Sokratis recently hinted that he would not mind making a move away from the European giants, Dortmund in the nearest future.

“If you’re young, you have a lot of time to win things. But I’m not young any more, time is getting shorter and I really want to win a title,” he said, as quoted by Goal.

After having missed out of the Champions League games for the first time ever since the reign of Arsene Wenger as manager, Arsenal is looking at the possibilities of adding to their defensive options in lieu of the upcoming season.

According tothe report, the Greek player isn’t one of Chelsea’s top priorities for this summer. This therefore means that Arsenal might just yet be able to have their way.

This season, Sokratis was able to score three goals out of 41 appearances made for Borrusia Dortmund across all competitions.

In 2013, Sokratis made the move to BVB from Werder Bremen. For his only major piece of silverware for the club, he won this season’s German Cup.

Previously, the 73-times Greece international has had spells with clubs like AEK Athens, Genoa and AC Milan before moving to the Bundesliga in 2011 with Bremen.

Sokratis is a very solid centre back and would be a good signing for Arsenal. In the air, he is also quite good as well as with the ball at his feet.

In addition, his spells playing for some of Europe’s biggest clubs would provide him with much of the experience needed.