Arsenal and Liverpool ‘will fight for Bundesliga defender’
Arsenal and Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Eintracht Frankfurt defender Willian Pacho.
The 22-year-old has made a significant impression since arriving at Frankfurt from Royal Antwerp in a €9m (£7.7m) contract last summer.
Pacho established himself as a regular presence in Dino Toppmoller’s team, having played 35 games in all competitions.
The left-footed defender has also become a key figure in the Ecuadorian national team, playing every minute of his country’s six 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
According to journalist Florian Plettenburg, Pacho’s performances caught the attention of Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool.
Both clubs have selected the Ecuadorian international as they consider whether to proceed in the summer transfer window.
Although Frankfurt are aware of the interest, they are not under immediate pressure to sell, with Pacho under contract until the summer of 2028.
As a result, the German club are likely to demand €60m (£51.2m) to sanction the defender’s departure ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães are currently considered Arsenal’s starting centre-back pairing, but Mikel Arteta appears interested in adding more strength to his defense over the summer.
However, Liverpool could also be in the market for a new defender, with uncertainty surrounding Joel Matip’s future. The 32-year-old is out for the season with a knee injury and there is a possibility he may have played his last game for the club. As it stands, the Cameroonian will leave Anfield on a free transfer when his current contract expires at the end of the season.
Liverpool have also previously been linked with a move for Pacho’s compatriot Piero Hincapie, who is currently enjoying a successful campaign at Bayer Leverkusen.
