Arsenal might see £80m bid accepted to signal PL star

Premier League champions. How good does that sound, Arsenal followers? It has been an extended 22 years within the ready. 22 years arduous years because the Invincibles held the trophy aloft at Highbury.

Twenty years on it was one other sunny affair, this time throughout London in Selhurst Park the place Mikel Arteta and his gamers lastly acquired their fingers on the title.

It was well-merited, not only for the supervisor, not only for the gamers and never only for the supporters but in addition for Andrea Berta, a person who was proper on the centre of the celebrations on Tuesday night at Colney. A video of Declan Rice carrying the recruitment chief round was comedy gold and was simply one among quite a few iconic clips to emerge because the title was wrapped up.

Berta could properly have solely been at Arsenal for simply over a yr however he has already made his mark within the switch window. Final summer season was largely successful however he now has the duty of attempting to enhance title winners. How do you try this? Your guess is pretty much as good as ours.

Arsenal taking a look at big-money Premier League star

One in every of Berta’s largest remits a yr or so in the past was to signal a brand new striker for the Gunners. He did that by welcoming Viktor Gyokeres to the membership.

Nevertheless, as was the case underneath Edu and the early years of Arteta’s reign, he additionally raided the Premier League, bringing in Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze.

Properly, the top-flight may very well be raided once more this summer season. Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon are on the membership’s radar, as is Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers. That mentioned, all would value a fairly penny.

The identical may very well be mentioned for Mateus Fernandes who has now been relegated with West Ham United.

Studies a couple of weeks in the past instructed that the Portuguese midfielder was a participant Arsenal had taken an curiosity in however they face extensive competitors to lure him away from the London Stadium.

Certainly, it is alleged that he’s dreaming of signing for Manchester United and linking up with compatriot Bruno Fernandes.

The most recent on the participant’s scenario comes from the Every day Mail who reported on Sunday that United have already made an enquiry for the participant however that Champions League finalists and PSG are additionally taking an curiosity.

Unfortuantely for these suitors, the Hammers are on the lookout for a price of £80m to let the 21-year-old go away.

The place Fernandes might match into the Arsenal squad

There have been two principal areas of debate this season within the Arsenal squad; on the flanks the place the left wing has been an space of concern and in midfield.

The central areas haven’t been a lot of an issue however there was a transparent overreliance on each Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi.

For 3 quarters of the season, they established a may high-quality connection in the midst of the park however because the marketing campaign reached it is conclusion, the Spaniard has begun to wrestle. It is hardly a shock, reality be advised. Solely his midfield colleague has performed extra minutes of outfield gamers in Arteta’s squad.

Zubimendi regarded drained however initially, his high quality was deserting him. Fortunately, Arteta made a tweak and within the strategy of handing Myles Lewis-Skelly a possibility, it not simply revived {the teenager}’s season, but in addition modified the fortunes of the Gunners.

The Hale Ender instantly got here into the group and regarded one million {dollars} from midfield. It was the place he discovered his commerce in at academy stage however previous to the 3-0 win over Fulham, had by no means began from that function within the senior group.

Properly, he appears proper at house there and hasn’t regarded again since that victory in opposition to Marco Silva’s males, enjoying 90 minutes in opposition to West Ham and beginning on the ultimate day in opposition to Crystal Palace. He even began the semi-final second leg of the Champions League in opposition to Atletico Madrid.

For a lot of this season Arsenal have been crying out for an extra possibility in midfield and Lewis-Skelly has introduced them with that. But, in the event that they had been to signal one other midfielder, notably Fernandes, it might be significantly dangerous information for the teen.

Why? Properly, whereas they do possess completely different qualities, the West Ham man is especially progressive. Actually, he is already been in comparison with Rice and that is not simply because he performs for the Irons; it is as a result of he has a really related toolkit.

Certainly, the 2 finest ‘floor eaters’ within the Premier League in the course of the 2025/26 marketing campaign are Rice and Fernandes. No different midfielders have the next ratio of progressive carry distance to turnover per carry. Confused by what that may imply? Properly, it is primarily outlined by how a lot ahead floor a participant good points by way of dribbling earlier than dropping the ball.

Lewis-Skelly is especially good in that regard. He navigates his well past a participant with ease, holds onto the ball exceptionally properly and progresses play brilliantly. On that proof, supporters could properly query the necessity for Fernandes.

But, he has been among the finest younger gamers within the Premier League this time period. In comparison with U21 midfielders in Europe’s prime seven leagues, he ranks first for possession received, defensive duels received and interceptions. He is additionally second for progressive passes accomplished.

That is an elite expertise within the making, a “famous person” already within the phrases of soccer author Joost van der Leij. £80m is lots to spend on somebody who not be be a assured began however with the issues Arsenal have found with Zubimendi in midfield in the previous few months, signing competitors makes loads of sense.