Club hailed for pulling off transfer ‘masterstroke’ as they can sign ‘spectacular’ Arsenal player for just £2.5m

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Bundesliga expert and popular commentator Derek Rae spoke on The Highbury Squad YouTube channel this week about Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos.

The Greek centre-half joined Arsenal back in January 2018, when Arsene Wenger was still at the helm. He was viewed by many as the future of the Gunners’ defence, but things haven’t quite gone to plan.

Mavropanos was sent out on loan to Stuttgart at the start of last season and that deal was extended by another year last summer. Now, the Bundesliga side have an option to buy the 24-year-old from Arsenal for just £2.5 million.

Rae has described that as a transfer ‘masterstroke’ and we can’t argue with that assessment.

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Derek Rae: Stuttgart pulled off a transfer masterstroke by convincing Arsenal to sell Mavropanos

The commentator said about Mavropanos: “He has been good with Stuttgart. You have to say that has been a bit of a masterstroke by their Sporting Director, who you will remember very well, Sven Mislintat. He was, of course, at Arsenal, but didn’t stay there that long. But, he has done a good job there at Stuttgart.

“Mavropanos, the reason I say masterstroke is because they managed to get this deal whereby they will get him automatically on a buy option for €3 million (£2.5 million) if they stay up. Now, it is touch-and-go if Stuttgart will stay up, at the moment. But, even if they get relegated, they still have the option to buy him for €3m.

“Whether he’s good enough to be an Arsenal regular, I am not so sure. But, he has, for the most part, been very good with Stuttgart. Playing on the right-hand side, a lot of the time in a back three.

“Commanding and when he seems to score goals, they seem to be spectacular. I talk to a lot of Stuttgart fans and they are very grateful to have him, I know that.”

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TBR View:

It really is strange that Mikel Arteta didn’t give Dinos Mavropanos a chance at Arsenal, especially after his impressive loan spell last season.

Many Arsenal fans believed in the summer that the Gunners boss would keep hold of one of William Saliba and Mavropanos, but Arteta surprised everyone and loaned both players out again.

Saliba may still have a future at Arsenal but it is extremely likely that Mavropanos will join Stuttgart on a permanent deal this summer.

That really is poor business considering the £2.5 million fee that has already been agreed by the two clubs.

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