Mikel Arteta's midfield at the Emirates Stadium could look completely different when Arsenal begin their 2023/24 season. The position has been recognised as the key area of improvement in the summer to ensure this season's momentum follows through after a successful current campaign.
Right now, the Gunners have a number of high-quality midfielders in Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard. Mohamed Elneny has suffered an injury hit season and summer signing Fabio Vieira is far from the finished product, but there’s still the need for me.
Yet, as has been well-documented in recent days, the variety in choice compared to their Premier League title rivals Manchester City off the bench has been nucleus to their recent downfall, seeing Pep Guardiola's men become 92.7% favourites to win their fifth league title in six years.
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football.london reported in January that West Ham captain Declan Rice was Arteta's preference to bolster his midfield, but Arsenal aren't anticipated to shy away from their solid policy of refusing to over-pay for players.
Alternatives are being linked with a move to north London almost every day, with Brighton's Moises Caicedo remaining on the club's radar and Ajax playmaker Mohammed Kudus said to be on the shortlist. However, there remains the possibility that the Gunners may venture away from some of Europe's recognised names.
Unfortunately for them, they will compete in the specific market along with Liverpool. The Reds have performed far below their usual standards this season and their serious lack of quality in the middle of the park has been their main downfall.
Like Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham's signature would come at too much of a colossal price for Liverpool and their scouting team have been working hard in recent months scouring alternatives. Reports suggest Jurgen Klopp is to be handed two or three 'very good' midfielders instead of one 'world class', with injuries and out-of-form individuals proving too costly.
An expected pattern that we should expect to come across this summer is reports linking both teams with one player. And the latest example comes in Rennes' Croatian star Lovro Majer. The 25-year-old is 'open to a new challenge' away from France after being refused regular starts, according to the Daily Mail.
The same story claims Arsenal and Liverpool are taking a 'greater interest' in Majer's situation, with him being valued at £30m. Dubbed as the next Luka Modric, Majer only moved to the Ligue 1 side in 2021 for £11m plus add-ons from Dinamo Zagreb but could be set to make Les Rouge et Noirs' a £19m profit.
A technical midfielder who loves picking up spaces inbetween the lines, Majer's move to Arsenal would make complete sense to provide competition to Xhaka and Odegaard. But Liverpool have an advantage.
Their midfield is in desperate need of fresh blood and any player who signs with Klopp's men will do so with the understanding that they'll slot straight into the XI at Anfield. With Naby Keita, Arthur Melo, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner all due to depart on free transfers, there's simply more opportunity at Liverpool.
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