Arsenal in talks to signal “insane” midfielder who may very well be their new Xhaka

Fatigue. That’s one of many major causes for Arsenal’s plight on the again finish of this season.

Mix that with a misfiring assault and it’s hardly a shock that the requirements of Mikel Arteta’s workforce have dropped.

Over the past month and a half, the Gunners have crashed out of the FA Cup, misplaced the Carabao Cup ultimate and surrendered a nine-point lead on the prime of the Premier League.

A lot has been made from the Gunners’ exceptional squad depth this season however not even that has been capable of save them in the previous couple of months of the season.

So, it’s set to be a busy summer time, one during which we may see a plethora of exits to create space for brand spanking new arrivals.

Arsenal’s summer time plans make them thrilling midfielder

The large worry for Arsenal supporters this summer time is that they’re pressured to money in on a few of their most fun gamers.

That’s to not say that somebody like Bukayo Saka or Declan Rice will depart however it has sparked worries that Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly might be exiting.

Final season, the Hale Finish duo have been in exceptional kind however it’s been a very totally different story in 2025/26. Their lack of soccer means they may very well be bought and since Arsenal would financial institution pure revenue from their exits, it’s a curious proposition.

However, that doesn’t imply Arsenal don’t care about youth. Max Dowman is rising, whereas they’ve agreed offers to signal Ecuadorian twins Holger and Edwin Quintero from Independiente del Valle, the identical membership that produced Moises Caicedo and Piero Hincapie to call a pair.

In a bid to enhance their future much more, they may welcome Crimson Star Belgrade’s Vasilije Kostov to the Emirates Stadium.

Simply 17 years of age, reviews earlier this week steered that Arsenal have been really closing in on signing the participant in a discount £10m switch. A flight to London may even be organized for later this week.

But, Fabrizio Romano insists {that a} deal isn’t fairly wrapped up but, regardless of talks advancing with Kostov’s brokers.

Reporting the newest, Romano stated: “Arsenal are following Kostov and they’re following him carefully. They made contact with individuals near the participant and are contemplating a transfer for him. It’s nonetheless early to say if they may shut this deal however Arsenal have curiosity. They’ve been scouting and following this boy.”

The place Kostov may match into the Arsenal workforce

It’s protected to say that one of many greatest points in latest months has been the Arsenal midfield.

Overlook their incapability to create clear-cut possibilities to attain from, with out Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi on the prime of their video games, Arsenal’s press and skill to evade opposition urgent have fallen by the wayside.

Rice’s efficiency ranges haven’t dipped disastrously however in Zubimendi, he can really feel a little bit let down by his accomplice in crime.

On the whole, the Spaniard has been a superb signing however is arguably paying the value for fatigue. No outfield participant on the membership has performed extra minutes in 2025/26 than the previous Actual Sociedad man.

But, Arteta seems to have struck gold with a small tactical tweak. In opposition to Atletico on Wednesday, the 2 of them swapped roles. Rice performed deeper because the holding midfielder and Zubimendi performed within the 8.

You sense long-term that Arsenal are nonetheless trying to find a decision in that 8 place. It’s one they’ve struggled to essentially nail down since Granit Xhaka left in 2023.

Kai Havertz was billed because the pure alternative however has ended up enjoying as a striker and whereas Rice has thrived when working additional ahead, you sense his qualities are finest served deeper on the pitch.

So, may Kostov repair this drawback? Let’s analyse his finest qualities.

This season, the Serbian midfielder has performed in a number of positions, not simply without any consideration winger but in addition as a quantity 10, a quantity 8 and as a holding midfielder.

Aged simply 17, {the teenager} is but to nail down his finest function however at present, you would need to say it’s additional ahead. From 22 outings as an attacking midfielder, Kostov has scored 12 targets and provided 4 assists. In actual fact, throughout his final 9 league video games, he has discovered the web on six events.

As one analyst on social media put it, he has “the most effective arriving within the field skills in world soccer.”

That’s a daring assertion for somebody so younger however there’s a purpose to consider right here that he’s lower from an analogous material as somebody like Aaron Ramsey, somebody who grew to become famend for scoring targets from midfield for Arsenal.

Nevertheless, he’s arguably nearer in type to 2022/23 Xhaka. That season, the Swiss operated as an 8. It obtained him nearer to purpose, albeit he may nonetheless drop deep to hyperlink play and supply line-breaking passes.

In actual fact, since transferring to Sunderland this season, no participant has made extra line-breaking passes that result in a purpose than him (8).

In that regard, Kostov is comparable. Como scout Ben Mattinson describes his finest qualities as the next: “Kostov is a both-footed deep-lying-playmaker with shut management in tight areas, high quality ball hanging from distance and game-breaking lengthy passing.”

Additional specialists on the teenager’s recreation be aware that “his passing is insane and the quantity of dangerous however nice passes he does in all places is superb.

“He’s not a lot of a service or dribbler. However is basically press resistant and has nice capacity on each toes.”

Whereas Kostov might not have the duel-winning and dogged defensive studying of the sport that Xhaka has, with regards to passing, breaking open play and crashing the field, the 2 are carefully aligned.

Maybe that is lastly the answer Arteta has been craving in a no.8 place.