Arsenal sporting director Edu could be boosted by the reported news that Fabian Ruiz's insistence to leave Napoli this summer could present Arsenal with a £50million alternative to sign a Youri Tielemans' transfer alternative as the Gunners board look to back Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners have so far only signed Brazilian youngster Marquinhos, a player Edu himself labelled as one for the future. Therefore, the north Londoners have the same squad as last season at this current moment heading into the Premier League 2022/23 curtain-raiser against Crystal Palace on August, 5.
Of course, there is plenty of time still to change this and with the likes of Tielemans and full-back Aaron Hickey in the sights of Arsenal, it is set up to be a productive summer for a side who narrowly missed out on a top-four finish to a Tottenham team who have started the transfer window on the front foot.
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Long-term Arsenal target Yves Bissouma looks to be headed to The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, alongside the likes of Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster, who are already done deals. That leaves the red side of the capital needing to respond and a double swoop for Tielemans and Hickey will be somewhat of a statement.
The Belgian international is hoping to leave Leicester City this summer and with only one year left on his contract, the Foxes could decide to cash in on a player that Arsenal have already done plenty of groundwork on to try and secure his signature.
However, Leicester are known to be stern negotiators as shown with the Harry Maguire and Ben Chilwell sales, meaning it may not be as easy as some thinks for the Foxes No. 8 to find an exit route out of the east Midlands this summer.
Therefore, alternative targets still need to be considered by Edu and with Malian international Bissouma now Spurs-bound, more European options are being sought after and Napoli want-away midfield Ruiz is certainly one of them. Having one year left on his deal just like Tielemans and with potential both targets being priced at £50 million as per Transfermarkt, do Arsenal go for the Premier League proven option or the Serie A risk?
Well, the Spaniard's insistence to force a move away from the southern Italian city could hand the momentum to Arsenal in this transfer battle with Juventus, according to Italian Journalist Paolo Bargiggia. On the 26-year-old's situation, he said via Sport Bible: “The club is, in fact, having a tough approach on Fabián. The player wants to leave the team, so Napoli will listen to important offers, or he’ll be relegated to the bench, as he’ll be excluded from the club’s project.
“I bring back the interest from Arsenal and Juventus, even if the ‘Bianconeri’ cannot make proposals worth €30-40 million.”
Arsenal fans- If you had the choice between Youri Tielemans and Fabian Ruiz, who would you choose to sign if you were in Edu's shoes? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
