5 defenders who should consider a move into midfield

#3 Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal)

Sead Kolasinac's love for attacking could make him a decent winger

The idea of a successful full-back or wing-back converting outright into a roving, dangerous winger or attacking midfielder isn’t a new one. Look at Gareth Bale, for instance, who started his career at Southampton and then Tottenham as a left-back and then developed his attacking skills to become one of the most dangerous players in the world.

Could the same thing happen to Arsenal’s attack-minded Bosnian left-back Sead Kolasinac?

Kolasinac has actually got some experience in midfield, although it was mainly as a defensive midfielder during his time at Schalke.

But for Arsenal this season, he’s already shown his attacking chops – he’s scored three goals in eleven appearances thus far, a solid return for a defender, and in his Gunners debut in the Charity Shield, he instantly endeared himself to his new fans by engaging in some daring attacking raids and also by scoring Arsenal’s single goal in that game.

Could he develop into the new Gareth Bale? It’s unlikely as Bale had the kind of pace that very few people possess.

But due to his technical ability, his willingness to fly into challenges, his goalscoring ability and his physical strength – he’s been described as an “absolute tank” by teammate Theo Walcott – he could be deployed in an attacking midfield position to great effect. If he loses Alexis Sanchez anytime soon, Arsene Wenger should give Sead a go in that spot.