[Transfer Targets] #15 Jadson

After allegedly missing out on Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker Douglas Costa the latest paper-talk is that Arsenal have targeted his mercurial team-mate Jadson as a potential replacement for either the seemingly discontented Samir Nasri, who looks set to leave with Manchester City interested, or for Barcelona-bound Cesc Fabregas – depending on what source you believe. Part of the Shakhtar team which topped our Champions League group last season (forcing us to play Barcelona), Brazilian international Jadson is rumoured to join Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain, Carl Jenkinson and Gervinho as part of a new-look Arsenal side for 2011-2012 after a bitterly disappointing end to last season: but is this anything more than a rumour?

credit to AP Photo

What’s his pedigree?: Jadson has excelled in his 6 years with the Ukrainian champions, scoring 60 goals in 257 appearances from midfield in all competitions with 16 of these coming in his 70 European matches and the 27-year-old finally earned his international call-up in February of this year, scoring one goal in four games for Brazil. The diminutive 5’6″ attacking midfielder has a good shot from range as well as being a tidy finisher and being renowned for his technical ability in control and accuracy in distribution of the ball; there are major question marks over Jadson’s suitability given his slight frame, lack of height and the fact that he plays in such a weak domestic league.

How’s the chemistry?: Although most sources report him as a Fabregas replacement, Jadson is not near the class of Fabregas in terms of presence, vision and skill and actually plays in much the same way as Samir Nasri where he is given more freedom of expression and less defensive and passing duty which Cesc has had. However, at the moment while Jadson would be a like-for-like replacement for Nasri, he has to be considered an inferior player, especially considering the fact he is older than both Nasri and Fabregas and isn’t regarded as highly as either – our manager said this on the future of the Catalan:

“We hope it will be sorted out very quickly one way or the other – we’ll know very quickly.” said Arsene Wenger.

Do we have a chance?: It seems somewhat strange that we have opened talks with Jadson (despite its widespread media coverage and the depth of articles reporting it) because his team-mate Yaroslav Rakitsky is one of the most highly rated young centre-backs in world football having been tracked by the likes of Barcelona; we also have a much more urgent need for reinforcements at centre-half than in an already crowded midfield. However, whilst this transfer can’t be ruled out completely, the myths that he can realistically replace either player to a high standard or even improve on them must be dispelled – Jadson can most closely be compared to Tomas Rosicky in skill and play.
Likely bid: £9 million. Probability: 4/10, more likely than not just a rumour.