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Arsenal’s plans for the January window could see reinforcements signed for the final third of the pitch
Liverpool were the team that earned all the plaudits in the summer after what was seen as a successful transfer window with Arsenal considered to be playing catch up before a ball was kicked.
Football isn’t played on paper though with Mikel Arteta making the right signings, rather than the ones that gained the most attention. That the Gunners boss has had to endure a lengthy injury list and make do without players like Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres and Bukayo Saka for spells but still guide his team to the top of the Premier League and Champions League is the perfect testament to the recruitment that has been done. He will be hoping that the hit rate is every bit as successful when the transfer window opens again in January.
Arsenal target Croatia international Toni Fruk
According to Croatian media outlet, 24Sata agent Andy Bara has claimed that a move to the Emirates could be on for his client and Croatia international Toni Fruk, saying: “Yes, it’s true, Arsenal want to bring him in.”
Bara also spoke to Sportske Novosti, where he clarified how far talks have gone for the 24-year old who has 10 goals and two assists in 26 appearances from midfield this season: “Whenever someone sees me in a city, stories start immediately. Now someone saw me in London and here comes this one. So, there is no story, except for that one. Many clubs are following Toni Fruk, many are interested, but for now there are no concrete talks or negotiations about a possible transfer of Toni. With no interested club.”
Fruk is currently playing in Croatia after joining Fiorentina as a teenager and failing to make the grade. Despite his age at the time, it is still something that the Arsenal recruitment team should be wary of if they are considering signing the playmaker. That the competition would include Odegaard, Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz when he returns, also raises a few eyebrows about any possible transfer.
What type of player is Fruk?
The Croatian SuperSport HNL isn’t exactly a staple on Sky Sports, TNT or any other media outlet in the UK which makes assessing Fruk more difficult, however, as is the nature of the modern game, statistics are easier to come by and Fruk’s profile is one that might have Arsenal fans sitting up and taking interest. In terms of style of play, Fruk is a carbon copy of two Premier League regulars.
Radar image of Croatia international Toni Fruk (blue) compared to Morgan Gibbs-White (red) and Marcus Tavernier (green).placeholder image
Radar image of Croatia international Toni Fruk (blue) compared to Morgan Gibbs-White (red) and Marcus Tavernier (green). | Data MB.
He might not be at the same level as Odegaard, but then neither is Christian Norgaard at the same as Declan Rice. As a back-up Fruk wouldn’t need to be. The five cap international compares favourably to both Morgan Gibbs-White at Nottingham Forest and Marcus Tavernier at Bournemouth. Neither are world beaters, but they are both more than capable of doing a job in the Premier League and, if Arteta signed them, they could be relied up to cover on the bench. Whether it is a position that Arsenal need to address in January, is another story.
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