As transfer business begins to commence once again, Arsenal’s top summer target this summer is to sign a new midfielder, with the club believing there is more opportunity to sign a defensive-midfielder as opposed to a central-midfielder.
Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard are now mainstays in Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup, but after Kai Havertz was moved into the striker-role, the third midfield spot is still up for contention.
The Gunners could look internally, as the likes of Jorginho and Emile Smith Rowe featured in the left side of midfield last season. However, Edu and his team are reportedly eager to bring in an external figure to the midfield department, as the likes of Amadou Onana, Mikel Merino and Joshua Kimmich are all linked with a move to North London this summer.
However, Declan Rice has revealed that the midfielder he would “love” to have on his team is England teammate, Conor Gallagher.
According to AS, Chelsea are willing to part ways with their stand-in captain and academy graduate for at least €50million. However, one impediment in a potential deal being completed for the 24 year-old is that the Epsom-born star has aspirations to become a legend at The Blues.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Arsenal’s club record signing revealed: “I’ve played against him when he was at Crystal Palace and Chelsea, and I’ve played with him in the academy team,”
He is player I would love to have in my team. He works his socks off. You feel so safe and secure in there with him. He has surprised so many people this year with his ability on the ball. How he breaks forward with it, how he gets into the box and scores goals.”
Declan Rice and Conor Gallagher may form a midfield partnership in England’s final match of the EURO2024 group stage, as they face Slovenia. With The Three Lions having already secured a spot in the knockout rounds, and Trent Alexander-Arnold facing recent criticism regarding his midfield capability, the Chelsea man could show Arteta why he should welcome him to North London this summer.
