Arsenal are said to be interested in a midfielder who could be an alternative to Martin Zubimendi.
Arsenal are said to have identified another midfielder amid reports they may miss out on Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi. The Gunners will likely concentrate much of their efforts on signing attackers this summer, with a striker and a winger needed as a minimum.
But reports aplenty have suggested that they are also looking to land a midfielder to add competition and depth to the middle of the field, and Zubimendi has been linked for months, with the Spain international expected to leave Real Sociedad this summer.
But with Real Madrid now reportedly stealing a march, there are fresh reports that the Gunners are looking elsewhere, and specifically to a creative midfielder currently plying his trade in Bundesliga. According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal are considering the signing of Felix Nmecha, who is currently with Borussia Dortmund.
The report claims Arsenal are ready to make an offer of £40million in a bid to wrap up a deal, although a host of other clubs are also being linked. The concerning factor is that Nmecha is currently out with a knee ligament issue, and he has been out since January, so there is an element of injury risk.
Before his injury, Nmecha managed scored three and assisted twice in 27 games across all competitions, but he is more of a holding midfielders, which is why he is billed as an alternative to Zubimendi.
Former Dortmund boss Nuri Sahin said of Nmecha: “I can only judge him based on the last ten or eleven months. But I think he has everything, he has an exceptional profile for a midfielder. He can play in the number six role, but can also play at number eight and ten."
Nmecha is under contract until 2028, but Dortmund are said to be likely to sell a player or two this summer, so there could be potential for a deal at the right price.
Arsenal were tipped to have wrapped up a deal for Zubimendi earlier in the season, but those reports appear to have been wide of the mark. Still, Arteta was asked about the potential of signing the Spaniard earlier in the season, and he responded by saying: “We have certain situations with contracts expiring. We can renew those contracts like we have done in the past. We are always actively evolving the squad and understanding what the players want to do when they finish our contract together, and we have to be prepared.”
Arsenal do already have two out-and-out central midfielders in Mikel Merino and Declan Rice, but they do need to replace Jorginho, who will leave at the end of his contract, and it’s unclear whether they will renew Thomas Partey’s contract, with the midfielder also out of terms after this season.
Arsenal could also do with more back-up for Martin Odegaard, as was shown earlier in the season when the Norwegian spent a spell on the sidelines with an injury, but the Gunners will have to spend responsibly, and that will likely mean they can only improve some positions.
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