Arsenal on standby to move for five Leandro Trossards after Declan Rice development
According to reports, Arsenal’s first offer for Declan Rice has been deemed inadequate as they offered £10 million less than West Ham’s asking price for their captain. In a similar situation earlier this year, Arsenal declined a £85 million transfer for Mykhaylo Mudryk and opted for the more affordable signing of Leandro Trossard for £30 million.
SportsDias examines five midfielders who could potentially emulate the cost-effective signing of Leandro Trossard if Arsenal choose to avoid significant expenditures this summer.
Ilkay Gundogan
Arsenal has the opportunity to secure a highly valuable free transfer by enticing Ilkay Gundogan from their Premier League rivals, Manchester City, who have been their title adversaries. Although Gundogan possesses a different playing style compared to Rice, his potential arrival would significantly enhance Arsenal’s squad with a wealth of quality.
Bringing Gundogan to Arsenal would introduce experience and leadership to a young team that suffered from a lack of strong personalities and know-how, which partly hindered their title aspirations. The 32-year-old midfielder’s contract with Manchester City is set to expire at the end of the season, and although the league champions are eager to extend his contract, there exists a possibility that Mikel Arteta could entice Gundogan to make the switch to Arsenal.
Saul Niguez
After an underwhelming loan spell at Chelsea, Saul Niguez has returned to Atletico Madrid and has enjoyed increased involvement this season. While he only started in nine La Liga games, Saul made a total of 36 appearances throughout the campaign.
At 28 years old, Saul could potentially be available for transfer, as Atletico Madrid might be open to parting ways with their former prodigy. Although his time at Chelsea didn’t impress fans, Saul remains a talented player who could enhance Arsenal’s midfield with his quality, and at a more affordable price than Declan Rice.
There were previous reports linking Arsenal with Saul when he initially emerged in the Atletico team during the mid-2010s. The Spanish midfielder was also rumored to be of interest to Valencia during the January transfer window, indicating that Atletico Madrid might be willing to entertain the idea of his departure.
Adrien Rabiot
Arsenal and Manchester United may find themselves in a potential battle for the signature of Adrien Rabiot during the upcoming summer transfer window. Last year, Manchester United was said to have been close to securing the Juventus midfielder’s services, although the deal did not come to fruition.
With Erik ten Hag aiming to bolster his midfield, which struggled in the absence of players like Casemiro or Christian Eriksen this season, there is a possibility that Rabiot could once again be a target for his plans. Arsenal, recognizing the talent of the French international, could also join the race to secure his services.
Arthur Melo
Similar to Saul, Arthur Melo had a difficult loan stint in England, specifically with Liverpool. Unfortunately, his time with the Reds was marred by an ACL injury shortly after joining, effectively ruling him out of contention for featuring in Liverpool’s matches.
However, now that he has recovered and regained his form, Arthur could potentially be available for transfer in the upcoming summer. Considering Juventus allowed him to depart last year, it’s possible that they may opt to loan him out once again for the 2023-24 season.
Arthur is an exceptional player who was unable to showcase his true abilities during his brief tenure at Anfield. Consequently, there may be several clubs vying for his signature, with Arsenal potentially being one of them.
Renato Sanches
Renato Sanches has experienced a significant resurgence in his career in recent years, particularly during his time at Lille, which eventually earned him a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain last summer. However, his impact with the Parisian club has been hindered by injuries, limiting his playing time.
With PSG reportedly undergoing a mini overhaul in the upcoming summer, focusing on building a new era around a core of French talent, Arsenal might have an opportunity to capitalize on that situation. They could potentially secure the services of Renato Sanches, a player they were linked with several years ago.
Arsenal on standby to move for five Leandro Trossards after Declan Rice development
Arsenal on standby to move for five Leandro Trossards after Declan Rice development
