22yo continues to be linked with €50-60m Arsenal move

Florian Plettenberg reports that Arsenal and Liverpool are both still interested in Eintracht Frankfurt’s Willian Pacho, with the club open to selling this summer if they receive an offer between €50m and €60m (£42.7-51.3m).

Plettenberg adds that Pacho has a contract until 2028, and he’s a “key player” for Frankfurt, but the price tag is there for any interested clubs.

The same journalist also reported in early March that Arsenal and Liverpool were in the mix for Pacho, with the Frankfurt hierarchy informed of that interest, though Fabrizio Romano denied the report at the time.

LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY: Willian Pacho of Eintracht Frankfurt is seen during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt at BayArena on December 17, 2023. 

LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY: Willian Pacho of Eintracht Frankfurt is seen during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt at BayArena on December 17, 2023. 

Romano wrote in his Daily Briefing that he hadn’t heard anything concrete on Arsenal in relation to Pacho.

The Italian journalist highlighted that many clubs are scouting the defender, that was as far as the story went in his opinion.

Arsenal probably will sign a defender this summer. The Gunners have struggled with a few injury problems at the back this season, and it would be foolish to expect them all to go away in 2024/25.

MATURIN, VENEZUELA: Willian Pacho of Ecuador prays after a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Venezuela and Ecuador at Estadio Monumental de Maturin on November 16, 2023. 

MATURIN, VENEZUELA: Willian Pacho of Ecuador prays after a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Venezuela and Ecuador at Estadio Monumental de Maturin on November 16, 2023

Takehiro Tomiyasu has consistently shown he’s only weeks away from another setback, Ben White played through part of this season with an injury, and ACL injuries like Jurrien Timber’s often carry the risk of further injuries in the future.

Even William Saliba, who has been a regular in the current campaign, hasn’t been entirely immune to injury absences in the past.

But it’s hard to say with any certainty who Arsenal might bring in as a backup at this stage.