Arsenal’s search for a new midfielder has taken another intriguing turn.
Bruno Guimaraes is Mikel Arteta’s priority target, though whether Newcastle will sanction selling another of their best midfielders after letting Sandro Tonali leave to Tottenham seems unlikely.
Arsenal are, however, still confident that a bid of around £65million will be enough to get a deal done.
Ayyoub Bouaddi and Alex Scott are also greatly admired, and a move for either should not be ruled out.
👀 NAME a BETTER midfield target for Arsenal than Ayyoub Bouaddi… I bet you CAN’T…
🌟 The 18-year-old looked so good vs Brazil's at the World Cup!
Now, another name has cropped back up.
Arsenal are gathering information on Enzo Fernandez
According to Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari, “The Enzo Fernandez topic remains open as he pushes to leave Chelsea. Real Madrid is the first option, but they must make a sacrifice to present an offer to the Blues.
“In the Premier League, Manchester City and Arsenal are gathering information on the Argentine.”
Extraordinarily, Real Madrid have since released an official statement categorically denying their interest and ruling themselves out of a move.
His Chelsea future has been further questioned after new manager Xabi Alonso personally requested the club sign former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka, though an insulting £8million offer to Sunderland was firmly rejected.
Xhaka has reportedly given the green light to the controversial switch, where he would reunite with the coach who bought him from the Gunners for Bayer Leverkusen.
Arsenal fans, what was your instant reaction when you heard Granit Xhaka wants to join Chelsea?
The Swiss captain would surely not agree to the move without being assured of a starting berth, suggesting that he would partner Moises Caicedo in midfield.
That has naturally cast further doubt on Fernandez’s future, though the Argentine could be pushed into a more advanced role.
It would be a move entirely in keeping with Arteta’s transfer habits, having signed six Chelsea players during his time as Arsenal manager — almost one a year.
Kai Havertz would love Arsenal to sign Enzo Fernandez
Arsenal striker Kai Havertz would surely be buzzing if the Gunners were to pursue a deal for Fernandez.
The pair enjoyed a brief spell together at Chelsea after Fernandez joined in January 2023, midway through Havertz’s final season at the club.
Havertz spoke with high praise of Fernandez at the time. “I really enjoy playing with Enzo,” he said. “He’s a great player and he has a lot of qualities. His ball for my goal was fantastic.”
However, Arsenal would surely be put off by the fee Chelsea would demand for Fernandez, having bought him for £106.8million.
And with a contract running until 2032 — yes, that’s another six (six.) years — they won’t let him go cheaply.
Arsenal were not willing to pay £100million for Tonali, so it’s hard to see a world where they would be willing to pay even more for Fernandez.
His quality is not in question, but unless some sort of cut-price deal can be struck, which seems highly unlikely, surely this transfer link is a whole lot of nothing.
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