Arsenal interest may make Newcastle regret missing out on defender Tagliafico

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Argentine international Nicolas Tagliafico is on Arsenal’s list of summer targets as they look to improve their defence, according to the Daily Mirror.

They report that Nacho Monreal is wanted by Barcelona as backup to Jordi Alba and that Tagliafico is in the frame to replace the left-back at the Emirates Stadium.

Celtic defender Kieran Tierney is also reportedly on Unai Emery’s shopping list, with Monreal’s expiring contract situation exacerbating the need for a new left-back.

But Arsenal are not the first English club to take a shine to Tagliafico. The Mirror reported back in December that the defender was on Newcastle’s wishlist.

The Magpies missed out on Tagliafico – and brought in loanee Antonio Barreca instead to solve their left-back issues, in the absence of Paul Dummett.

And if Arsenal are serious about getting the Argentine, Newcastle look unlikely to be able to compete financially with them if it turns into a transfer battle.

So Benitez may well have missed his chance to sign a defender who impressed at the World Cup last summer and that regret could grow if Tagliafico turns into the long-term successor to Monreal that Emery needs if he is to get the Arsenal defence to where it needs to be.