Arsenal now want to sign a defender who idolises Cristian Romero
Arsenal will not be signing Cristian Romero this summer.
The Premier League champions are on the market for a new defender due to William Saliba and Jurrien Timber’s injuries.
Arsenal were linked with a shock move to sign Romero, but the Argentine is now on his way to Atletico Madrid in Spain.
The Gunners still need a new defender, and they are now looking at a player who idolises Romero: Jarell Quansah.
Arsenal target Jarell Quansah watched Cristian Romero clips to learn
Arsenal are interested in signing Quansah as defensive cover this summer.
The Englishman left Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen last summer, and he has made a good name for himself in the Bundesliga.
Quansah is primarily a centre-half, but he has played at right-back in the past and is more than capable of doing a job there.
That must be why the Gunners are looking at him, but one of the players he studied to improve is not going to impress Arsenal fans.
Quansah opened up on his role models when he was at Liverpool, and one of the surprise names he mentioned was Cristian Romero.
He told The Daily Mail in November 2023: “It would be stupid for me not to watch them. It’d be like having a resource and just throwing it away, I couldn’t live with myself if I did that.
“Virgil makes everything look so easy, doesn’t he? And even when you’re next to him, it is the same. It’s 24/7 learning, really.
“I love watching different countries and the way they defend. In Spain, I looked at Sergio Ramos, Leonardo Bonucci in Italy, and sometimes, I’ll go on a mad one and watch any South American defenders.
“Especially Argentinian, because I love the way they defend, Cristian Romero!”
Jarell Quansah may just be Arsenal’s best option in this window
Arsenal were linked with Ezri Konsa and Romero before the Quansah links emerged, and you could understand the reasoning behind those pursuits.
The two players are in their prime, have tons of experience in the Premier League and at international level, and would likely hit the ground running.
However, Romero and Konsa would both cost a fortune, and because of their age, there wouldn’t be any significant resale value.
Quansah, on the other hand, is still only 23, has massive potential, and he could be sold for big money in a few years if need be.
That makes the former Liverpool man the best option for Arsenal in this window.