Transfer
Arsenal: Arteta makes Locatelli contact
Arsenal are eager about a deal to deliver Manuel Locatelli to The Emirates this winter.
What’s the discuss?
That’s in line with Italian media outlet CalcioMercato, who declare that, regardless of turning down a suggestion for the midfielder from Manchester United in the summertime switch window, Juventus may nonetheless be tempted into parting with the 24-year-old this January, ought to they obtain a suggestion too good to show down – together with his asking worth reported to be within the area of €40m (£35m).
The report goes on to state that, having been linked with Locatelli up to now, Arsenal have now made contact with the Italy worldwide and Juventus with a purpose to decide whether or not or not the participant could be eager about a transfer to north London this winter, though negotiations between the Serie A aspect and the Gunners usually are not believed to have began simply but.
Fabregas 2.0
With holding midfield being one thing of a weak level in Mikel Arteta’s first workforce squad – as Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka are the Spaniard’s solely obtainable choices within the place at current – it isn’t obscure why the 40-year-old could be eager about a deal to deliver Locatelli to The Emirates this winter.
Certainly, the £52m-rated playmaker seems to be to be a participant very a lot within the mould of Arteta’s specific model of soccer, with WhoScored itemizing two of the 24-year-old’s main strengths as his blocking of the ball – demonstrating his means to win possession again for his aspect – and his vary of passing – proving his means to assist his aspect management the tempo of video games.
These traits are evident within the breakdown of his statistics, with FBref rating the Italian within the prime 14% of midfielders in Europe’s massive 5 leagues and European competitions for progressive passes per 90, along with the highest 16% for passes accomplished, the highest 30% for passes tried and the highest 16% for blocks during the last three hundred and sixty five days.
Moreover, the £96k-per-week earner has earned reward for his means to play line-breaking passes, with journalist Raj Chohan stating of the midfielder following his show in a 2-1 victory over Belgium in October of final 12 months:
“Italy performed Locatelli on the base as an alternative of Jorginho vs Belgium within the Nations League third-place play-off and regarded unreal. He’s acquired far more line-breaking passes in his locker.”
And, with Arsenal having lacked a participant within the mould of a real deep-lying playmaker ever since their £35m sale of Cesc Fabregas again in 2011 – who was identified for his means to “dictate the tempo” and get his workforce “dominating games through the middle” – the signing of a participant with the potential to carry out such a task may effectively show transformative for Arteta’s aspect.
As such, not solely would Locatelli look like a first-rate candidate to take up this mantle, however ought to the Italian go on to seal a transfer to north London this winter, he may effectively turn into the Gunners’ subsequent Fabregas-esque dictator in the midst of the park – a prospect that’s certain to be an extremely tantalising one for each Arteta and supporters of the membership alike.
