Arsenal are now racing Barcelona to the signing of a “complete midfielder”, and £52m could be enough to seal a deal, according to a report.
Gunners planning to seal midfielder deal soon
The Gunners are looking to strengthen in several key areas this summer, with signing a new striker and central midfielder among their priorities, and they want to get a deal wrapped up for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi as quickly as possible.
Talks to sign Zubimendi are progressing well, despite interest from other clubs, including Spanish giants Real Madrid, and there is a belief a deal could be agreed by June, potentially making the Spaniard one of Andrea Berta’s first signings.
However, with the move for the Sociedad star yet to be completed, there is still a possibility the north Londoners will bring in a different midfielder this summer, and there may need to be more than one new addition in the middle of the park.
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That is because Thomas Partey has now held exit talks, with the Ghanaian now highly likely to leave this summer, alongside fellow midfielder Jorginho, who is out of contract in the summer.
According to a report from Caught Offside, another potential midfield target Arsenal have in mind is Sporting CP’s Morten Hjulmand, with the Portuguese side now willing to cash-in on their captain for the right price this summer.
Despite Hjulmand having a €80m (£69m) release clause in his contract, Sporting value the midfielder at €50m – €60m (£43m – £52m), and there is no shortage of interest in his services.
Within the Premier League, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have also expressed an interest in the Sporting maestro, while Inter Milan, Barcelona and Paris-Saint Germain headline the interest from abroad, so there may be fierce competition for his signature.
"Complete midfielder" Hjulmand could be solid signing
Should Partey move on this summer, it would be wise to bring in a like-for-like replacement, and scout Ben Mattinson has stated Hjulmand also excels in the defensive side of the game.
The Danish midfielder has been a key player for Sporting over the past two seasons, picking up two goals and two assists in the Liga Portugal this term, while also displaying his leadership abilities by captaining the side.
Having first proven himself in the Serie A with Lecce, prior to joining Sporting, Hjulmand now has a track record which suggests he is ready to make the step-up to a top club, and it is promising news that Arsenal are in the race for his signature.