Arsenal are starting to be linked to several players ahead of the summer transfer window, including Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich.
Kimmich’s contract expires in the summer, and Bayern are stalling on offering the German what he’s demanding.
Jorginho is expected to leave North London when his deal runs out at the end of the season, while Thomas Partey’s future is yet to be determined.
Thus, Arsenal have held talks over Kimmich, with the Gunners poised to make a move for the experienced Champions League winner, as a replacement for one of their ageing midfielders.
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Arsenal transfer target Joshua Kimmich speaks out on future
Making over 400 appearances across ten years at Bayern, Kimmich leaving the Bundesliga giants would be a shock, given how synonymous he’s become with the club.
In this spell in southern Germany, the versatile midfielder has won eight league titles and the Champions League, establishing himself as one of the best players in his position in Europe.
Thus, it’s no surprise that a number of clubs are understood to be interest in acquiring him on a free transfer.
Kimmich himself has now confirmed that there are potential suitors for his signature.
Speaking out on his future, the 30-year-old said: “Other clubs also play a role in my decision on the future.
“I won’t mention which clubs, but there will be a decision soon.”
It’s possible that Kimmich is leveraging this outside interest to get the terms he wants from Bayern.
However, it seems the Bavarian club are staunch in their stance of not bowing to the player’s requests, and thus the suitors could come in to play.
It’s well-documented that Arsenal are one of those potential suitors, and Kimmich is reportedly open to a Premier League move.
Whether or not the Gunners can fend off interest from the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool remains to be seen, but they certainly have a chance of landing the serial winner.
How does Joshua Kimmich compared to Martin Zubimendi?
It seems clear that Arsenal will be chasing at least one central midfielder this summer, as they look to rebuild an ageing part of their team.
Martin Zubimendi has been heavily linked with Arsenal, and thus, it could come down to picking between the Spaniard and Kimmich.
The Real Sociedad man has a £51 million release clause, but would likely demand significantly more modest wages than his German counterpart would.
Statistically, Kimmich profiles much more as someone who excels in possession, while Zubimendi produces more defensively.
| Statistical Comparison 2024/25 (League only) | ||
| Stat | Zubimendi | Kimmich |
| Appearances | 25 | 23 |
| Goals | 1 | 1 |
| Assists | 1 | 6 |
| Key Passes per 90 | 0.55 | 2.58 |
| Progressive Passes per 90 | 6.17 | 10.8 |
| Pass Accuracy | 83.2% | 90.1% |
| Tackles per 90 | 2.38 | 1.69 |
| Interceptions per 90 | 1.36 | 0.71 |
The Bayern man progresses the ball more efficiently, retains possession at a higher rate and creates more chances than the Sociedad talisman, who wins the ball back more.
However, these numbers are likely to be heavily influenced by the leagues and teams in which the two players play in, and it’s difficult to imagine how this would translate to playing in the Premier League for Arsenal.
Ultimately, if the Gunners can sign both and move both Partey and Jorginho on, that would represent incredibly exciting and proficient business.
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