Mikel Arteta has been handed a huge update on two of Arsenal’s midfield transfer targets. Thomas Partey is still expected to be sold this summer, and thus the Gunners are in the market to sign a replacement with one spot in Arteta’s midfield very much open.
While the aim of the upcoming trading period is tailored to raising the floor of the squad rather than the ceiling, as football.london understands, the Gunners have an obvious gap to fill. Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice performed superbly in the 2023/24 season, with Partey joining them for the final few games of the season.
During his injury absence, it was often Jorginho who filled the deep-lying role, however he is not quite capable of playing twice a week on a regular basis. As such, Arteta and sporting director Edu will both likely know a new marquee midfielder is needed.
In terms of options, Arsenal have been linked to Bruno Guimaraes, Douglas Luiz, Amadou Onana, Youssouf Fofana and Martin Zubimendi. With varying asking prices for all six, it is seen as likely that the latter name, given the €60million (£51million release clause in his contract, is acquired, especially following Arteta’s hint that the Gunners will not be spending big.
“[We] look again,” the Arsenal boss told CNN when asked about transfers. “All the margins, squad-wise, the process that we have at the football club, our methodology, especially on how we can make our players better, more competitive, more consistent and cause them to raise the level and be better than the previous season
“I think our focus has to be with what we have already in house. How can we be better? There are margins and there are players that can still develop and be better and that’s the objective that we have.”
Even with Arteta’s admission, a too-good-to-turn-down opportunity could be on the horizon with someone like Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich, because of his contract situation, available for potentially as little as €35million (£29.7million), as per Mundo Deportivo.
The Germany international, alongside Zubimendi, has been linked to a Barcelona transfer however club president Joan Laporta has now confirmed neither are in the plans. Speaking to ‘The Presidential Podcast’ on Barca One, he said: “I don’t think we will go for big names, as well as we don’t plan to sell our stars. We’re looking for new winger and new midfielder. We also have our own talents who could cover those position.”
Barcelona leaving the race for both players could open the door for Arsenal to strike with Zubimendi, still considered a target despite claims he is happy in Spain, and Kimmich signings that would greatly improve Arsenal.
