Arsenal have been dealt a huge blow because of a serious injury to Mikel Merino.
The Gunners have had several fitness issues since the start of the campaign. We are in February now, and Mikel Arteta still hasn’t had a fully fit squad available at his disposal for any game.
Merino is the latest Arsenal player to get hurt, and the Gunners have confirmed that he is set to undergo surgery in the coming days. The aim is for him to return before the end of the season.
Arsenal are considering a deadline day move to replace Merino, and we have a suggestion for Arteta and Andrea Berta – Ruben Neves.
After Merino’s injury, who should Arsenal sign in a shock deadline day deal?
Arsenal should sign Ruben Neves to replace Mikel Merino on transfer deadline day
Neves has been on Arsenal’s radar since his time in the Premier League at Wolves.
The Portuguese midfielder was excellent in England, and multiple reports claimed that he was eyeing a move back to Europe from his current side, Al-Hilal, in Saudi Arabia.
In fact, Arsenal were even offered a chance to sign Neves about a month ago, but nothing came of it then because the Gunners didn’t have any major injuries in midfield.
Now, with Mikel Merino out for an extended period of time, Arteta and Berta need to bring in a backup, and we think Neves would be perfect.
The 28-year-old is not a like-for-like replacement for Merino, but he is exactly the type of midfielder the North Londoners need.
Neves can fill in for both Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice if required, and he is a clear upgrade on Christian Norgaard in that role.
The former Wolves man is excellent on the ball, very good without it and has shown that he can score incredible goals. He is great at set-pieces too, which makes him a great fit at the Emirates.
Berta is considering his options at the moment, and we think he will struggle to find a better short-term option than Neves on deadline day.
Watch these Ruben Neves goals and tell us how much you would pay to sign him for Arsenal!
Arsenal will need to be quick to sign Ruben Neves
Time is of the essence for Arsenal if they want to sign Neves.
The Gunners need to secure a deal before the transfer deadline at 7 pm on Monday night. A deal sheet, if submitted in time, will give them an additional two hours.
It’s not just the deadline that requires quick action, but reports have claimed that Neves is in advanced talks with Al-Hilal over a contract extension.
Of course, the temptation of joining the best club in the world right now and winning the Premier League and Champions League this season could change his mind.
For that to happen, however, Berta needs to make an offer right away.
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