Mikel Artetaplaceholder image
Mikel Arteta | Getty Images
Arsenal are being linked with a swoop for the Bundesliga star at the end of the season
Arsenal ended up having a quiet January on the recruitment front. The Gunners did their business last summer ahead of this season. They are currently sat top of the Premier League table after 25 fixtures.
Mikel Arteta’s side are placed at the summit ahead of Manchester City and Aston Villa. They won 3-0 at home against Sunderland this weekend. Viktor Gyokeres scored twice against the Black Cats at the Emirates Stadium, whilst Martin Zubimendi also found the net.
Arsenal transfer update regarding Leon Goretzka links
According to The Mirror, Arsenal hold an ‘advantage’ in the race to sign Bayern Munich star Leon Goretzka this summer. The player is keen to play in England which could catapult the Gunners into pole position to land his signature ahead of other European suitors. His contract at the Allianz Arena expires in June.
Goretzka, 31, is due to become a free agent when this campaign ends as things stand. He is yet to put pen-to-paper on an extension with the Bundesliga giants. Therefore, they are due to lose him for nothing which would be a major blow.
The Germany international, who has 67 caps to his name, has made 28 appearances in all competitions this term, 18 of which have come in the league under Vincent Kompany, and he has scored one goal. The Bochum-born man has been on the books of Bayern since 2018. He has been a great servant to them and has played 292 games altogether.
Will Arsenal sign Leon Goretzka
Time will tell whether Arsenal will be able to secure the services of Goretzka. If he joined, he would give them more competition and depth in the middle of the park. In addition, he would offer them something different to what they already have in his position.
Bayern’s sporting director Christoph Freund said last month: "Leon feels very much at home in this club and this team. Despite several quality inquiries, he has decided to stay here until the end of the season.
"After open and constructive talks, we have come to the conclusion together that he will seek out a new challenge in the summer. It’ll be eight years at Bayern – eight extremely successful years with a strong person and player. Leon will give his all up to the summer to win as many more titles with the team as possible."
Goretzka could battle it out with the likes of Declan Rice, Zubimendi and Mikel Merino for a place in Arsenal’s starting XI. He is an experienced operator in the game and would be a useful character to have in and around the dressing room. The fact he is set to become a free agent means they wouldn’t have to pay a penny for him which would save some cash.
He started his career at VfL Bochum and rose up through their academy ranks. Goretzka was a regular for his boyhood club at various different youth levels before breaking into their first-team before a switch to Schalke. Bayern then came calling eight years ago and he hasn’t looked back.
Continue Reading