Arsenal were desperately scrambling for a midfielder on transfer deadline day. Injuries suffered to Thomas Partey and Mohammed Elneny seriously weakened Mikel Arteta’s options in the middle of the park.
football.london understood that a deal to sign Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz was actively being pursued on deadline day. But after three rejected bids by Villa, Arsenal were unable to secure a signing.
But, this may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. This is due to the current transfer chase in the pursuit of Jude Bellingham which Edu can take advantage of.
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The Borussia Dortmund man has been linked with a big money move away from Germany next summer with Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea teams all said to circling for the former Birmingham City midfielder.
The interest in him stretches to Europe as Spanish publication Marca write that Carlo Ancelotti wants to add Bellingham to fellow midfield star Aurélien Tchouaméni, who joined the club this summer for £85m.
While other clubs battle for Bellingham’s signature, Edu can address Arsenal’s midfield issues in the transfer window by making an early signing before the clubs who miss out on the Englishman’s signature search for alternatives.
The Gunners struggled when competing with Europe’s best clubs in the previous summer transfer window. Arsenal’s incomings slowed down after losing out on Raphinha to Barcelona. The Gunners seemed to have the edge on signing the Brazilian until Chelsea attempted to hijack a potential deal, but the winger ultimately decided to join Barcelona.
Arsenal cannot repeat the same situation when addressing the midfield department, and the chase for Bellingham’s signature gives Edu the perfect opportunity to avoid a Raphinha repeat.
Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey are two players whose place in the team are currently untouchable. Albert Sambi Lokogna and Mohammed Elneny are the two backup players, but their levels in terms of experience and quality do not compare with the two starters.
With Partey’s consistent injury issues, it means that he cannot be relied upon to go through a season without being on the sideline due to injury. It is for this reason that Edu must look to bolster Arteta’s options in the midfield, and with a signing that can replicate the Ghanaian’s qualities.
Bellingham being many top club’s first-choice midfield signing can allow Edu to sign his number one target without competition from a team who could have a stronger voice in negotiations.
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