Arsenal are stepping up efforts to sign Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Djibril Sow in the summer transfer window, it has been claimed.
The Gunners are currently focused on the Premier League title race, with Mikel Arteta’s side holding an eight-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table. But, behind the scenes, sporting director Edu and his team are already thinking ahead for the summer off-season, when they will have an opportunity to solidify Arsenal ’s position.
Arteta wants to strengthen the squad in central midfield, where back-up is needed for regular starters Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey. Jorginho was signed from Chelsea in January, and Mohamed Elneny signed a new contract in February, but Arsenal are still open to new arrivals.
Bild reported in December that Arsenal were among the Premier League sides keeping an eye on Sow, whose contract is set to expire in June 2024. Newcastle and Nottingham Forest have also been credited with interest and, according to Sky Sports Germany, Sow has now made it clear to Frankfurt that he wants to leave this summer.
The 26-year-old has told his employers that he won’t sign a new contract and the German club are therefore keen to cash in this summer while he retains some value. Talks have already been held with English, French and Italian clubs, with Sow valued at around €15million (£13m).
Sow is a regular for Frankfurt, for whom he has seven goals and 13 assists in 151 appearances and has 36 caps for Switzerland. He has played 38 times so far this season for Frankfurt, who normally field him as a defensively-minded central midfielder.
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Arsenal could have an edge in the transfer market due to the presence of Sow’s international team-mate Xhaka in their side. The duo started alongside each other during all four of Switzerland’s games at the World Cup in Qatar last year – and Sow is a big fan of the Arsenal man.
“Above all, Xhaka is a role model as a personality, as a leader,” he said last year. “He brings a presence to the pitch that I haven't seen that often before."
Xhaka joined Arsenal from Borussia Monchengladbach in May 2016 for £30m. Like Xhaka, Sow used to play for Gladbach, and he has been open about his desire to follow in Xhaka’s footsteps to the Premier League.
He told Sport1 in 2021: “The Premier League is the most attractive league in my opinion. The best players compete there. I've always dreamed of playing in the Premier League.
“But when I was a little boy, I never would have thought that I would play for Eintracht today. So I'm very happy with how my career is going. The Bundesliga is not one of the best leagues for nothing.”
