Fabrizio Romano has revealed Arsenal are eyeing midfield sensation Romeo Lavia forward of a doable summer time transfer.
What is the newest on Arsenal’s switch targets?
Mikel Arteta is clearly in pursuit of a central midfielder this summer time, with studies that Declan Rice is the membership’s predominant goal, and this follows a January window the place massive presents have been made for Moises Caicedo .
The league leaders are additionally maintaining tabs on 19-year-old Lavia, who has impressed for Southampton in his 24 appearances this season.
A younger choice who can rotate with Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Granit Xhaka is outwardly on the wishlist, and Lavia has earned plaudits from his friends, with former team-mate Kevin de Bruyne beforehand. describing the Belgian as “superb”.
Talking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that whereas Arsenal are maintaining tabs on the £25,000-a-week star there’s nothing concrete when it comes to a transfer simply but.
He stated: “Arsenal are maintaining tabs on the participant.
“Arsenal are following Romeo Lavia, however in the intervening time (there’s) nonetheless nothing superior. Arsenal have many choices.”
Why do Arsenal need a midfielder?
Three of Arsenal’s key central midfielders in Xhaka, Partey and Jorginho are all aged 29 or over, and Partey’s health report is especially inconsistent.
Arsenal are sometimes depending on Partey on the base of Arsenal’s midfield, with Xhaka and Martin Odegaard pushing ahead. Whereas Jorginho has stepped in to nice impact at instances since his arrival in January – together with a efficiency in opposition to Aston Villa the place he helped create the successful objective – a longer-term rotation choice might are available in very useful.
This might clarify the curiosity in younger abilities similar to Rice and Caicedo, and Lavia will be seen instead choice to the pair.
Nonetheless, it is nonetheless unclear if Lavia can step into Partey’s footwear at the same time as a rotation choice. Partey ranks within the prime 5% of midfielders in Europe’s prime competitions over the previous yr for progressive passing, with the Ghanaian serving to Arsenal construct assaults from deep, whereas Lavia ranks within the backside 29% this yr. regard, based on FBref.
Though nonetheless younger, the expertise that Partey and Jorginho deliver to the staff could also be missed by somebody as uncooked as Lavia. With simply 26 senior appearances to his identify in his profession, it could be troublesome for him to step right into a midfielder who might probably compete for the league title once more subsequent season.
Declan Rice, alternatively, is West Ham’s captain and has expertise domestically, in Europe and on the worldwide stage. Arsenal can have extra religion within the Englishman’s capacity to step in and carry out when wanted given the massive distinction in pedigree between him and Lavia.
