Who would have thought that Arsenal would be dipping back into the transfer market after the quiet period since Oleksandr Zinchenko was signed on the US tour?
Initially, the plan was for all focus to replace Nicolas Pepe, who is now on loan at Ligue 1 side OGC Nice for the rest of the 2022/23 campaign. However, certain injury situations have caused midfield to need more attention in the last 24 hours or so that remains. Mohamed Elneny's training ground injury, coupled with the unreliability of the injury-prone Thomas Partey, has prompted Edu and Co to look into making an eleventh-hour acquisition to round off what has been a good transfer spell for the north Londoners.
A total contrast to how they fared on the incomings front back in the January 2022 transfer window. In midfield, the likes of Youri Tielemans (£25million), Douglas Luiz (£20m) and Palmeiras' unknown quantity Danilo are all options as an eleventh-hour signing. Who or how many of the aforementioned three sign remains to be seen but currently, Danilo and Tielemans look the most likely as the Aston Villa star has many other suitors weighing up a late move like an Atlético Madrid and Liverpool.
READ MORE: Who is Arsenal transfer target Danilo: Edu eyes Youri Tielemans alternative to cover £57m issue
With this in mind, football.london previews what Arsenal's midfield will look like after £45m transfer decisions are to be made on Transfer Deadline Day.
Leicester's number 8 would take Partey's spot as a midfield pairing cannot be formed with a player with a history of picking up niggles here and there.
Granit Xhaka would be the midfield partner for the 25-year-old. Mohamed Elneny would be a useful rotation-type player, whilst the likes of Albert Sambi-Lokonga and Danilo, in the long-term, will be the future of Mikel Arteta's midfield foundations.
Danilo would most likely need to be loaned back for 2022/23, with Palmeiras not keen on losing the 21-year-old during a title challenge in the Brazilian Serie A. With Ainsley Maitland-Niles also expected to be off, Elneny, Lokonga, and Partey would be the backup options in this scenario.
Arsenal's midfield two behind Saka, Odegaard and Martinelli: Youri Tielemans and Granit Xhaka.
Substitute options for the remainder of 2022/23: Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny and Albert Sambi-Lokonga.
Arsenal fans- would you be happy with this midfield set-up if Edu was to commission this late £45million plus spend on two midfielders? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
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