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Arteta needs competition | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal are being linked with a serial winner who would add much-needed competition.
Martin Zubimendi will be bolstering the midfield on a big-money deal from Real Sociedad, and Arsenal are still working on a deal for a striker. Elsewhere, the Gunners need depth in pretty much every position, including at goalkeeper and centre-back.
Jakub Kiwior helped cover for Gabriel Magalhaes last season, but the Poland international may well demand to move on to secure more regular starts. In any case, Arteta might want more genuine competition for Gabriel and William Saliba to get the very best out of both players, and signing a Premier League champion might be a good solution to that.
According to AS, Arsenal are showing an interest in Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte, who could be willing to bid goodbye to Al-Nassr and Saudi Arabia after just two years. It’s claimed Laporte could be available as he looks to finish his career back in Europe, and there is talk that he could be available for just £25million this summer.
Athletic Club, Marseille and Inter Milan are also said to be interested, along with Arsenal, who would likely view Laporte as their number three centre-back should they pull off the deal.
There has been some concern about players coming back from Saudi Arabia due to the fact they are playing at a lower level, but addressing that claim in an interview with The Athletic last year, Laporte said: “We are not bad players for being there, and I am not going to lose my football abilities overnight.
“In my case, I can tell you I demand the most from myself and I train (in Saudi) at the same intensity I did in Europe. I want to be in the best possible conditions to be up for selection with Spain too, because this is the place where I’ve enjoyed football the most in the last eight years of my career.
“I understand there were more doubts about me after I joined Al Nassr. The Saudi Pro League is not among the leagues with the biggest impact in the world at the moment. With new signings and players coming in, it will surely become bigger and bigger. The rhythm in competition is possibly a bit less — except some games against the top teams, where I would say it’s the same. They are high-intensity games.”
Laporte deal ticks Arsenal’s boxes
Arsenal need better depth at centre-back, without doubt. Saliba and Gabriel may be a top partnership, but title-chasing teams need genuine competition throughout their squad, to make sure every player feels as though he can lose his place with a poor performance.
Arteta does not have that throughout his squad, and centre-back is one of his biggest issues. Laporte has won five Premier League titles, a Champions League, a European Championship and the list goes on. Arsenal need born winners who know what it takes, and for £25million, he is a world-class option who can bring leadership and knowhow to a squad in need of that killer instinct mentality.
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