Arsenal Newsnow: Reportedly, Arsenal are in the lead to sign Ibrahima Bamba, a defensive midfielder for Vitoria Guimaraes who is 20 years old and “protected” by a €30 million buy-out clause
Arsenal Newsnow: It’s no secret that Arsenal needs to bolster its midfield, and after his representative was sighted in London this week, it seems like they’ll be able to sign defensive midfielder Ibrahima Bamba from Portuguese club Vitoria Guimaraes. That’s what the Portuguese news site Jornal de Notcias (via Sport Witness) is reporting; they say the Gunners are “on the front line” in their pursuit of the 20-year-old’s signature. They are “tightening the siege” for his move.
Arsenal Newsnow: What’s the matter?
This season, Arsenal’s manager has relied too much on Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey as his main choices in the centre. When January rolls around, they’ll need to bring in additional players so that the roster can be shuffled around and the players stay fresh. Arteta wants a young player with potential but also someone who can contribute right away.
High-profile players like Brighton & Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo and Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi have been linked to a transfer to north London in recent months. It would seem that Arsenal has set its sights on Ibrahima Bamba, a promising midfielder. The young Italian played his first professional season with F.C. Pro Vercelli 1892 before making the move to Vitoria in 2020. He signed his first professional deal at the start of this year.
This season, the 20-year-old has been a fixture at Dom Afonso Henriques stadium. He has appeared in 16 league games for the Conquerers. They are presently seventh in the Portuguese first division, three points off of the last Europa Conference League spot.
What’s next for the Gunners?
PSG, Club Brugge, and Atalanta are just some of the European teams said to be keeping tabs on him. It is thanks to his impressive performances in recent months. Ibrahima Bamba might be a fantastic long-term addition to Arsenal.
🏆 Presenting our Bukayo with his December Player of the Month award…@BukayoSaka87 🤝 @KSI pic.twitter.com/R1hbmMnENX
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 26, 2023
But he is still young and would need time to adjust to life in the Premier League. Though still young, he has shown remarkable adaptability and has been a rock at the back for his team. Bamba might be seen as a cost-effective option. As someone they can mould into their ideal player in the future.
However, the midfielder is “protected” by a €30 million release clause. He is under contract with the Portuguese team until the summer of 2026. So it remains to be seen if the Gunners would activate it to bring him to the Emirates Stadium or will attempt to bargain to decrease the asking price.
ALSO READ: “We Will Take Revenge For Stealing Mudryk”, Arsenal Is Set To Hijack Chelsea’s £100M Transfer Target
