Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may have competition for a top summer target.placeholder image
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may have competition for a top summer target. | Getty Images
Arsenal have been touted with a big-money move for a Premier League midfield star
Arsenal are back in Premier League action on Thursday night as the league leaders look to strengthen their grip on top spot in a challenging trip to Brentford.
The Bees harbour European dreams of their own and will prove a challenging test for the Gunners after recent victories over both Aston Villa and Newcastle United. Arsenal, though, have returned to goalscoring form in convincing victories over Sunderland and Leeds and have regained a six-point advantage at the top.
Whether or not Arsenal win the Premier League this term, where they go next in the transfer market will make for interesting viewing. The Gunners have two top-quality players for almost every position and their strength in depth has meant that there has been no significant drop-off caused by injuries this season. Mikel Arteta’s side were linked with one of the Premier League’s leading midfielders on transfer deadline day and may face fresh opposition if they are to return for him in the summer.
Real Madrid linked with summer swoop for Sandro Tonali
According to reports by TuttoJuve in Italy relayed by TEAMtalk, Real Madrid are ‘ready to submit’ an initial offer exceeding €75million (£65m) for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali.
Los Blancos are thought to be targeting a new midfielder as one of their transfer priorities next summer, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, and Arsenal and Manchester United target Tonali is thought to be high on their wish-list, if reports from his homeland Italy are to be believed. Juventus also hope to sign the 25-year-old and bring him back to Serie A.
Reporting continues to claim that Real Madrid view Tonali as ‘a complete player: intensity, playmaking ability, physical strength, and the ability to dictate the pace.’
While they are said to be aware that €75m is likely to be swiftly rejected by the Magpies – with a valuation closer to £100m touted – it is thought that this ‘opening offer’ will be used to test the waters before they return with an improved second bid thereafter.
‘Real Madrid is aware of this [Newcastle being likely to reject €75m], and knows that, to have a real chance, they may have to raise their offer beyond the initial one,’ TuttoJuve added, while claiming that Tonali is ‘eyeing the possibility of a move to Real Madrid’.
Will Tonali be on the move this summer?
Amidst reports linking him to multiple leading clubs in Europe including Arsenal, United and now Real Madrid, it is likely that speculation surrounding Tonali’s future will not die down and he could ultimately move on in the summer. This belief has only been intensified by his agent, Giuseppe Riso, who has fanned the flames surrounding a potential transfer and said that talks would take place this summer in a recent interview with Tuttosport.
“We’ll evaluate and decide what to do in the summer,” said Riso. “These transfer discussions will take place later. We’ll see how the season ends and then we’ll decide what to do.”
Arsenal currently have Mikel Merino out for the season and boast Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard as their main midfield options at present, with Martin Odegaard or Eberechi Eze starting in a more creative role alongside them.
Continue Reading