A year ago
Arsenal Transfer News:
Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspard are looking for the perfect midfield additions for the summer transfer window.
There is much talk about the upcoming transfer window and what Arsenal can do after an impressive 2022/23 season. The Gunners are expected to bolster Mikel Arteta's squad for a Champions League return.
That was despite a great season in which they returned to the top of English football and won the Premier League title with Manchester City. It is expected that there will be a balance between contracts and exits in the coming months. Midfield is an obvious target for sporting director Edu Gaspard, with West Ham star Declan Rice a top priority, football.london knows.
The man behind Granite, however, cannot overemphasize the importance of upgrading current resources rather than replacing them, making Manchester the man to turn to for answers. There is a possibility.
Ilkay Gundogan has spent the last seven years at the Etihad Stadium after joining for £21m from Borussia Dortmund. If Pep Guardiola's side win the Premier League title at the end of the month, the German international will take a total of five wins, at a cost of £3.5m each.
The 32-year-old has scored 58 goals in 300 appearances for City and is considered by some to be one of the most underrated midfielders in European football. But despite his starring role in City's recent victories over Leeds and Everton, his future at Manchester remains uncertain.
His contract expires at the end of the season and the club are reportedly ready to release him in the summer. Negotiations over the extension have reportedly failed to make any progress, leaving Arteta to repeat the ploy of ambushing his former team. Gundogan could be the perfect option for the Gunners to increase their chances in midfield. His scoring ability and his passing and defensive work are almost perfect for the model needed in North London.
According to FBRef, Gundogan ranks in the 96th percentile for goals without penalties and 94th percentile for total shots compared to players in the same position in the top five leagues.
On-ball, he is in the 95th percentile for touches in the penalty area and the 90th percentile for receiving progressive passes, that is, passes that move the ball towards the opponent's goal. He's an impressive all-around performer. The experienced midfielder would be a great addition to Arteta's midfield and join the current options for a Champions League return next season. His service is available for free, so it could be one of his summer deals.
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