Arsenal Ready To Pay £19m Release Clause To Sign Bundesliga Defender

The opening of the summer transfer window is fast approaching so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Arsenal are linked with Ricardo Rodriguez….

Arsenal are ready to step-up their interest in Wolfsburg left-back Ricardo Rodriguez by triggering his £19m release clause this summer, according to the International Business Times.

Arsene Wenger has already started his summer transfer business after wrapping-up the signing of midfielder Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach last week and it appears the boss is now keen on strengthening his defence.

With Kieran Gibbs expected to leave after losing his first team place to Nacho Monreal, a new left-back is likely to be needed this summer and it looks like Wenger has set his sights on one of Xhaka’s international team mates.

The IBT are citing a report which originates from German outlet Kicker that claims Arsenal are ready to step-up their interest in Wolfsburg left-back Ricardo Rodriguez by triggering his £19m (€25m) release clause.

The report suggests that Arsenal’s youth director Andreas Jonker has recommended Rodriguez to Wenger as he knows the player well from their time together at Wolfsburg.

The Swiss international has just come off the back of another impressive season in Germany but he was a rare positive in what was a disappointing campaign for Dieter Hecking’s side as they finished 8th in the Bundesliga table.

With no form of European football to look forward to next season, several of their star names are being linked with moves this summer and it looks like Rodriguez is now being lined-up for a move to Arsenal.

Wolfsburg will be keen to keep hold of the 23-year-old and as he still has three years left on his contract, they are under no pressure to sell so are demanding the full value of his release clause.

Obviously we have the money to pay £19m for the young international but I’d personally be surprised if Wenger decided to spend that kind of money on a full-back. Nacho Monreal has been Mr Consistent for the past two years so we only need to sign a back-up for the Spaniard, and it would make little sense splashing a large portion of our remaining transfer kitty on a reserve defender.

If Wenger sees Rodriguez as starting ahead of Monreal next season, then fair enough, but I don’t see why the boss would be planning to drop the 30-year-old after another impressive campaign at left-back.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news

Basically, there are more important areas of the squad that £19m should be spent on such as a centre-back, right winger and striker so I’d be shocked if Arsenal did end up bringing Rodriguez to the club this summer.