Arsenal follow up Jorginho arrival by expanding long-term midfield shortlist to include adaptable Ajax ace
More midfielders who are on the radar of Arsenal have been revealed after their capture of Jorginho from Chelsea.
After the additions of Leandro Trossard on the wing and Jakub Kiwior in defence, Arsenal wanted to conclude their January transfer activity with a deal for a new midfielder. However, their top target, Moises Caicedo, was out of reach.
Brighton, not happy after already losing Trossard to Arsenal, turned down their bids to sign him. Hence, the Gunners quickly had to look elsewhere.
Ultimately, they settled on the more experienced Jorginho, who was available for a modest fee due to his contract with Chelsea being in its last six months.
But there is already a recognition that Arsenal will have to look for a younger option again when the summer comes around.
Indeed, after loaning out Albert Sambi Lokonga to Crystal Palace, all of Arsenal’s midfielders apart from Thomas Partey are 30 or above. And the Ghanaian exception will reach that milestone in June.
Hence, a move for Caicedo, 21, could come back into the equation in the summer. In addition, Arsenal are being linked with 24-year-old West Ham captain, Declan Rice.
A report from The Athletic has now shed light on two other potential targets. The source reiterates previous information from elsewhere that Arsenal tried to tempt Martin Zubimendi away from Real Sociedad last month, but failed.
About to turn 24, Zubimendi has been one of the standout midfielders in La Liga. However, he has been happy to stay put at Real Sociedad for now. By the summer, he should have plenty of options available to him.
Arsenal may be among them still after their January interest. But just as Zubimendi will have plenty of options for his next club, Arsenal will have plenty of options for their next midfielder.
Edson Alvarez a new Arsenal suggestion
The new reveal by The Athletic is that they have also considered Ajax star, Edson Alvarez.
The Mexico international can play as a holding midfielder or a centre-back, so could be useful in multiple ways. According to the report, Arsenal discussed the idea of signing him this winter.
Ultimately, Alvarez remained in Amsterdam, where Ajax have him under contract until 2025.
He has been with the Dutch club since 2019, making 127 appearances since then, including 24 this season.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd among the Premier League 2023 January transfer window winners
At the age of 25, he could be ready for the next step in his career. Moving to the Premier League would be his first experience of English football, or any of Europe’s top five leagues, for that matter.
If Arsenal were to choose him, they would be investing in a player approaching the prime of his career. Usually, they have gone for young talents or established veterans, with little in between. (Trossard would be one recent exception, in fairness).
Summer planning already starts
Hence, Alvarez may be a wise choice to go for if the price is right. That said, Rice is at a similar stage of his career and, like Caicedo but to a greater extent, could offer existing Premier League experience instead
Rice and Caicedo both have margin for further development, so are worth considering.
After having to be reactive in January, moving on from deals for top targets like Caicedo and Mykhaylo Mudryk in favour of alternatives, Arsenal will be hoping to use the next few months to their advantage in order to prepare better for the summer transfer window.
On the pitch, their focus will be on trying to go into it as Premier League champions, since they are currently top of the league. It might only add to their appeal as a destination in a few months’ time.
