Arsenal and Liverpool have reportedly expressed interest in acquiring the services of Willian Pacho, a defender currently playing for Eintracht Frankfurt. The 22-year-old, who transferred from Royal Antwerp last summer in a €9 million (£7.7 million) deal, has garnered attention for his notable performances.
Pacho has solidified his position as a regular member of Dino Toppmoller’s squad, having participated in 35 matches across various competitions. Furthermore, he has emerged as a significant asset for the Ecuadorian national team, featuring in every minute of their six qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Renowned journalist Florian Plettenburg has highlighted Pacho’s impressive displays, indicating that both Arsenal and Liverpool are considering him for potential recruitment. Although Frankfurt is aware of this interest, they are currently not compelled to sell, as Pacho remains under contract until the summer of 2028.
Frankfurt is anticipated to demand a significant fee of €60 million (£51.2 million) to authorize Pacho’s departure ahead of the 2024-25 season. While Arsenal currently relies on William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes as their primary central defensive duo, manager Mikel Arteta appears inclined to reinforce the team’s defensive depth during the upcoming summer transfer window.
Meanwhile, Liverpool may also seek to bolster their defensive lineup, especially with uncertainties surrounding the future of Joel Matip. Matip, aged 32, is sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury, raising speculation about his potential departure from the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Liverpool has previously been linked with Piero Hincapie, another Ecuadorian defender currently excelling at Bayer Leverkusen.