Sead Kolasinac to join Arsenal on July 1

According to Sky Sports News, and a variety of other sources, including his Schalke teammate Max Meyer, Sead Kolasinac will sign for Arsenal on a free transfer. The transfer will be complete on July 1, following the expiration of his contract at Schalke, and the Bosnian will sign a 5-year contract.

Kolasinac, 23, has been a Schalke regular since 2012, and attracted interest from Juventus, Milan, Everton and Manchester City. At 6’0, he adds height from a full back position, and has been primarily used as a wing-back for Schalke this season, scoring three times in thirty games.

With Arsene Wenger’s revelation today that he had been thinking of utilizing a back three since early November, targeting Kolasinac makes sense. While Nacho Monreal has done well at wing-back, he is 31, and a full-season at the position may be beyond him. Kieran Gibbs has been fairly poor, offering little in an attacking sense.

Indeed, Kolasinac’s arrival may spell the end for Gibbs, whose contract is up in 2018. Monreal has use as a deputy left back and can also fill in at centre back.

Above all, this transfer shows that Arsenal are still a destination for good, young talent, even with their Champions League participation in doubt.