Arsenal dealt a blow as highly-rated target Sime Vrsaljko of Genoa not for sale

Arsenal are reportedly preparing for Bacary Sagna’s departure by scouting Croatia international right-back, Šime Vrsaljko.

Sagna’s future has been in doubt since contract talks reportedly stalled last season and with his current deal running out in the summer Arsene Wenger is looking to bring in another defender to compete with Carl Jenkinson.

Vrsaljko, who has 4 international caps to his name, only signed for current club Genoa in the summer, but has long been linked with big clubs across Europe since starring for Dinamo Zagreb as a teenager.

Playing in all but one of the his team’s matches this season (they conceded 5 at home in the fixture he was missing from) Vrsaljko has won a notable 68% of his headed duels and created one more chances (3) than his potential positional rival, Jenkinson (2). The England full-back boasts a superior tackle success rate though, winning 7 of his 9 tackles this season compared to the Croatian’s 5 of 11.

Sime Vrsaljko Duels Won

There is one obvious stumbling block in the deal though, with Genoa only signing the defender this summer, they may want to see a full season out of him before selling him to a bigger club. Their coach Gian Piero Gasperini told Sky Sports Italia that the player would not be leaving until next summer at least.

“They want him, but this January? We need all of our players available. It is important everyone stays together.”

The player who recently stated that he needs to be playing regularly if he is to continue his rapid development echoes his manager’s views.

“I came to Genoa because the club give youth a chance.” said Vrsaljko in an interview with Il Secolo XIX

“If I’d joined a big club I probably wouldn’t have had much playing time. This is a good team. There are young, talented players who are ambitious like me.”

Wenger won’t be too fussed about having to wait until the summer as Sagna’s contract runs until then and if he does sign Vrsaljko, he will have two of the most promising young full-backs in Europe vying for his right-back spot.