Having landed top attacking target Gabriel Jesus already this summer, Mikel Arteta 's attention has now turned to bolstering his midfield.
The Brazilian striker became the Gunners' fourth signing of the summer, with Arteta having moved swiftly to snap up Marquinhos, Fabio Vieira and Matt Turner. While Vieira in particular will add some much-needed depth to Arsenal's midfield, the north Londoners have by no means finished recruiting in that area.
Finding themselves somewhat short of top-quality options in the centre of the park, Arsenal appear intent on adding a midfield maestro to their ranks this summer, with Leicester City's Youri Tielemans considered the preferred candidate. However, amid reports the Gunners are eyeing up alternatives, Mirror Football take a look at the other options Arteta could attempt to lure to the Emirates over the next few weeks.
Youri Tielemans
As stated, Arsenal's first-choice midfield target appears to be Leicester star Tielemans. The Belgian has reportedly attracted interest from a whole host of top Premier League teams this summer after showing no intention of renewing his Foxes contract, which expires in a year's time.
The 25-year-old is thought to holding out for a move to Arsenal this summer, though Manchester United in particular are believed to considering an offer for the midfielder with Erik ten Hag an admirer. The Foxes are thought to have valued Tielemans at around £30million and that fee may be worth paying given the player's Premier League experience and versatility in midfield.
Ismael Bennacer
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Though Arsenal's pursuit of Tielemans is expected to ramp up over the coming weeks, it seems the Gunners are reluctant to place all of their eggs in one basket. According to Calciomercatoweb, the north London outfit are eyeing a shock Emirates return for AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer.
The Italian outlet claim Arsenal are weighing up a £34m move for the Algerian enforcer who spent two seasons on the club's books between 2015 and 2017 where he made just one senior appearance. The 24-year-old has seen his profile soar since joining Milan in 2019 and the African Cup of Nations winner was influential as the Rossoneri claimed the Scudetto last season.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
Arsenal have lacked a powerful presence capable of dominating the midfield for some time now, but signing Lazio's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic could put an end to those concerns. The Serbian star has long been linked with a move to the Premier League, however, Arsenal have emerged as the leading candidates to land the player dubbed 'The Sergeant' this summer.
According to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, the Gunners have seen a £47m bid for the 27-year-old turned down in the current transfer window, but a new offer is anticipated. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal would be willing to stump up in excess of £55m in order to match Lazio's rumoured asking price. Milinkovic-Savic is revered for being an all-action midfielder and he would certainly add some much-needed steel to Arteta's side.
Ruben Neves
Wolves ' midfield maestro Ruben Neves is another who has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in recent times. The Portugal international, who is also thought to have attracted strong interest from United, appeared destined to depart Molineux for Barcelona this summer, but speculation linking him with a move to Spain has subsided somewhat in recent weeks as the cash-strapped Catalan club have prioritised other targets.
Arsenal could well seek to revive their long-standing interest in the midfielder and exploit Barcelona's inability to capture all of their transfer targets this summer. However, Wolves are thought to have slapped a whopping £75m price tag on the 25-year-old, which is believed to be around £30m more than the likes of Arsenal are willing to offer.
Lucas Paqueta
Arsenal technical director Edu has made no secret of his desire to use his Brazil connections to his advantage this summer and another compatriot he is thought to be eyeing up is Lyon's Lucas Paqueta. According to Media Foot, the Gunners are expected to rival fellow Premier League side Newcastle for the 24-year-old's services.
The French outlet state that Arsenal are currently working on a behind-the-scenes deal, with Arteta ready to sell the club's vision to the midfielder in order to lure him to the Emirates. The Gunners could have their work cut out with regards to convincing Paqueta however, with ESPN Brazil insisting the £45m-rated Selecao star is expected snub interest from the Premier League in favour of a Lyon stay this summer.
