Reported Arsenal target has what it takes to be as good as 245-goal father, says coach

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Reported Arsenal target Justin Kluivert is a player that Roma are “counting on for the future”, according to their head coach Paulo Fonseca (Publico).

The 21-year-old has been linked to a swap deal with Arsenal for Giallorossi loanee Henrikh Mkhitaryan, with the Gunners reportedly opening talks with the Italian club over a potential transfer (Gazzetta dello Sport).

With funds expected to be tight both at the Emirates Stadium and at the Stadio Olimpico this summer, big-money moves aren’t expected to be on the agenda for either side with loan deals, free transfers, youngsters and bargains more likely to be pursued instead.

Part-exchange and swap deals could also be on the cards, and according to Gazzetta dello Sport, talks have taken place between Arsenal and Roma this week over the possibility of such an arrangement, with Raiola mediating as the agent of both players.

Speaking with Portuguese outlet Publico, Fonseca was asked to compare Justin with his father Patrick and replied that, whilst the players are different, the twice-capped Netherlands international will be a big player for Roma in the future.

“They’re different,” he said, as translated by Football Italia. “His father was a great player, a great striker. Justin has what it takes to be as good as him. He’s one of the young players that Roma are counting on for the future.”

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With Arsenal reportedly having little money to play around with in the market this summer, the prospect of a fee up to around £25m for a dazzling 21-year-old attacker that Goal.com claimed “can become one of the best players on the planet” and “will be king”, plus getting a £180,000-a-week player off the wage bill, is surely tempting.

Kluivert has changed positions under Fonseca at Roma – he had been utilised mainly as a winger, but had started to play as the man behind the main striker prior to the suspension of Italian football, which means more strings to his bow and more versatility at Mikel Arteta’s disposal.

The Netherlands international even has a soft spot for Arsenal and the Premier League – in the summer of 2018 he told Helden: “England appeals to me: Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea or Manchester United are nice clubs where I can see myself playing in a few years.”

Fonseca is clearly keen on keeping Kluivert at the Stadio Olimpico, and to say he can be just as good as his father – who scored 205 competitive club goals over his career plus 40 for the Netherlands senior team – is quite the compliment.

That said, it remains to be seen what the board’s stance is on the player, particularly when there’s the opportunity of signing Mkhitaryan, a player who has excelled in the red and yellow.