Arsenal still seem to be on the hunt for a midfielder in the January transfer window, having been linked with numerous players in this position during the summer.
Youri Tielemans seemed to be the Gunners' main transfer option. The Belgian is available to be signed on a free transfer in the summer, but he could also be signed on a cut-price deal in January, due to his ongoing contract situation with his current deal expiring in 2023.
Franck Kessie is another player that had been linked with a move to the Premier League with the north London club being touted to secure the Ivorian’s signature.
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However, it looks as though Arsenal will have to challenge Barcelona in order to secure a deal. According to Di Marzio, a swap deal for Barcelona's Franck Kessie and Inter Milan's Marcelo Brozovic depends on Kessie giving it the green light.
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Before he joined Barcelona, The Mirror claimed that Arsenal, along with Manchester United and Spurs, were interested in securing the Ivorian's services. Kessie is still only 24-years-old but has the necessary Champions League experience and was a Serie A regular for over five seasons.
Thomas Partey has been excellent for Arsenal in the early weeks of this season and is a crucial piece of Mikel Arteta’s midfield jigsaw. Arsenal’s likelihood to win a game increases by a large margin when he is playing compared to when he is absent from kick-off. Since his arrival in 2020, he has been an automatic starter under Arteta.
However, his injury issues over the past two years prevent Arsenal from being able to rely entirely on the midfielder. Albert Sambi Lokonga has had numerous of attempts to impress in the absence of Partey, but has constantly shown that he cannot impact the midfield the same way Partey does.
Arteta's side also looks seriously weak when Granit Xhaka is not available for selection. This is a problem of both depth in the squad and the drop in quality of replacements.
Edu must look to sign more midfield reinforcements. Xhaka and Partey are two players whose place in the team are currently untouchable. Kessie would certainly be able to bridge this gap. If his discontent continues at Barcelona, then it is a situation that Edu must look to explore and ensure competition does not beat the Gunners.
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