Forget Mykhailo Mudryk, Mikel Arteta wants to sign another Chelsea outcast for Arsenal this summer in £39m transfer

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Arsenal are looking to bolster their midfield department with at least one new signing this summer.

Jorginho is expected to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of this season, with the Italian set to join Brazilian side Flamengo.

Meanwhile, Thomas Partey is in talks over signing a new deal at the Emirates, but the Gunners will still need a midfield addition to strengthen their depth in this area.

Martin Zubimendi is heavily linked with a move to Arsenal, although it appears Andrea Berta is lining up potential alternatives to the Spaniard.

• READ MORE: Staggering statistic shows Arsenal are struggling in one key area, Mikel Arteta must fix it

Arsenal eyeing Chelsea outcast Andrey Santos

Across London to the west, Arsenal’s neighbours, Chelsea, have a host of players on their books who are on the periphery of Enzo Maresca’s squad.

The likes of Mykhailo Mudryk, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Christopher Nkunku could all leave Stamford Bridge this summer after not receiving the game time they’d have hoped for this campaign.

Andrey Santos is another in the Blues’ extensive ensemble who isn’t keen on remaining in West London.

According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal are interested in signing Santos, who could be available for a fee in the region of €45-50 million (£39-43 million) this summer.

The young Brazilian midfielder has impressed on loan at Strasbourg this season, netting nine goals and registering three assists in 28 Ligue 1 appearances.

While Chelsea may be keen on integrating Santos into Maresca’s squad next campaign, the 20-year-old is understood not to be entirely committed to returning to Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal are looking to pounce on this uncertainty, although the Gunners will face competition from the likes of Tottenham, Newcastle, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan for his signature.

Andrey Santos’ statistics 2024/25

Santos could be the perfect player to deputise for the likes of Declan Rice, Partey and potentially Zubimendi.

Capable of contributing in the final third, Santos is an energetic, box-to-box midfielder who is capable of retaining possession in difficult areas, while also contributing excellently defensively.

Amassing 3.5 tackles per 90 minutes, Santos is superb at reading the game, crunching into challenges and reclaiming possession for his team.

He does all that whilst regularly finding himself breaking into the box late and getting on the end of moves.

Scoring goals whilst boasting impressive defensive output makes him a similar player to the likes of Mikel Merino and Rice, and he could be an astute pick-up as cover and rotation for these two players.