Arsenal is trying to upgrade its midfield this summer after another successful Premier League season under Mikel Arteta’s leadership. Amadou Onana of Everton and Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad are two of the club’s primary targets, according to Fabricio Romano.
Last season, the Gunners broke their transfer record when they paid £105 million to West Ham for Declan Rice. However, the loss of Thomas Partey for a significant portion of the campaign due to injury limited their midfield options.
Although Partey’s return to the club during the Premier League title run-in has been crucial, Jorginho has been used alongside Rice frequently and has performed well. As a result, Arsenal is currently searching for a longer-term alternative to anchor their midfield.
Arsenal Monitoring Onana and Zubimendi Ahead of Transfer Window
The Gunners want a new midfielder to play with Declan Rice
The meticulous Arsenal recruitment team has identified two players: Zubimendi, who has a £51 million release clause and might cost up to £60 million, and Onana, who may cost up to £111 million. Romano predicted that the Gunners will give a midfield player first priority this summer, particularly since Partey’s deal expires in 2025. Instead of looking for a long-term replacement, Arsenal might decide to cash in on the midfield player.
There is a vacancy for a new defensive midfielder because Jorginho recently signed a new contract with Arsenal and is unlikely to be included in Arteta’s starting lineup for the upcoming campaign. Romano discussed Arsenal’s priorities ahead of a “busy” summer for the North London team on the ARLS podcast.
He said:
“Arsenal will be busy. I think it’s going to be an exciting summer.
“Arsenal will be there because they need a player in the defensive positions, probably left-back.
“Then a midfielder, I see Arsenal signing an important midfielder in this summer transfer window. For example, Zubimendi is a player they like.
“The advantage for Arsenal is they already have the manager with an important project, so they know the players they like and Zubimendi is one of them.
“Onana at Everton is one of them. Also Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa, they are some players that they really appreciate.”
| How Onana and Zubimendi’s stats per 90 minutes compare to Partey in 2023/24 | |||
| Partey | Onana | Zubimendi | |
| Appearances | 13 | 29 | 31 |
| Touches | 77 | 56.3 | 60.8 |
| Passes completion | 89.1% | 84.3% | 85.7% |
| Progressive passes | 7.5 | 4.77 | 5.15 |
| Progressive carries | 1.63 | 0.90 | 1.15 |
| Take-on success | 69.2% | 42.3% | 66.7% |
| Tackles | 1.75 | 3.02 | 1.66 |
| Interceptions | 1.38 | 0.95 | 1.25 |
| Ball recoveries | 6.50 | 7.03 | 5.73 |
Romano: Arsenal Will Sign a Striker
The journalist has tipped the Gunners to make a move for Viktor Gyokeres
Another pressing task for Arsenal’s backroom staff is to recruit a new striker with Gabriel Jesus’ form dwindling since his knee injury last year, while Eddie Nketiah seems to have been frozen out by the Spanish manager.
Kai Havertz was signed last summer for £65m from Chelsea and has been in resurgent form since he moved into the number nine position. The German has 12 goals, but when you compare his efforts to the likes of Erling Haaland at Manchester City, whom Arsenal are competing for the Premier League title with, they do not come close to comparing.
Havertz has his role in the team but it is not necessarily to put the ball in the net, so a new striker is certainly on the cards for Arsenal, Romano has confirmed, with the Gunners fancying Sporting Lisbon frontman Viktor Gyokeres.
The 25-year-old has 27 league goals in 32 matches this season and has put himself on Arsenal’s radar.
Romano said: “They will sign a striker, yeah. Let’s see if they prefer to invest on a winger or a central striker. I think Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon is a player they really like.”
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