Mikel Arteta could be set to turn his attentions to a shock Premier League captain to replace the outgoing Thomas Partey at Arsenal. The midfielder is set to leave the club at the end of his contract, following in the footsteps of Jorginho, who has already impressed since joining Flamengo.
While a deal for Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi seems to be a case of when rather than if, Arteta is still keen to add more midfield reinforcements given the number of players in that area of the pitch he is set to lose. However, one name being touted as a possible incoming has come out of left field, with reports suggesting that the Gunners could make a move for a surprising Premier League skipper.
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Arsenal Lining Up a Move For Christian Norgaard
The Brentford captain has two years left on his deal for the Bees
According to a report from the Mirror, Brentford captain Christian Norgaard is on the shortlist of potential midfielders that the North London club could target this summer as they look to strengthen the engine room. Brentford have already had to deal with major departures this summer, with manager Thomas Frank moving to Tottenham, while star forward Bryan Mbeumo also looks set to complete a move to Manchester United.
However, their skipper may also be on the way out if the latest claims are to be believed. The Dane has two years left on his contract at the Gtech Community Stadium and has been a regular since joining the club from Fiorentina in 2019.
Norgaard was part of the Bees squad that first got promoted to the Premier League in 2021 and has made 122 appearances in the top flight, as Brentford have transformed from one of the smallest teams in the division's history to a mainstay that just achieved their highest finish since 1936.
Due to the interest in other star players, it is claimed that Brentford would demand a sizeable fee for the 31-year-old. However, given that he could be free to negotiate a departure for nothing in 18 months, and the fact that this could be one of the final chances the player has to secure a high-profile move, it hasn't been ruled out that the club could accept a cut-price deal to let Norgaard go.
Christian Norgaard Seasonal Stats Since Joining Brentford
Season
2019/20
2020/21
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
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All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt - accurate as of 21/06/2025.