Arsenal transfer target Amadou Onana has a similar stature to Gunners legend Patrick Vieira, and Mikel Arteta would be ‘delighted’ to have him at the Emirates Stadium, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Onana linked with Arsenal

As per a report by RMC Sport, the north London club have opened talks with the Belgium international over a potential move this summer.

West Ham are also keen on securing the 20-year-old’s services, having made the first move with a €23m (£20m) bid. However, this was swiftly rejected by Lille, who claimed that the player is not for sale.

Onana arrived in Ligue 1 less than 12 months ago but has since gone on to impress with Les Dogues, having made 31 appearances in the league last season.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s claim on Onana

O’Rourke has drawn similarities between Onana and former Arsenal captain Vieira, claiming that the 20-year-old has all of the tools required to succeed in the Premier League.

Speaking with GiveMeSport about the young Belgian, the journalist claimed: “He’s got the stature of Patrick Vieira, and if he’s half as good as Vieira was for Arsenal then I think Arsenal will be delighted to have him at the club.

“He does have all of the attributes to be a success in England. He’s a good ball player and has great energy.”

The Verdict: Great potential

When analysing the 20-year-old’s underlying statistics, his potential to become a top-level player is clear to see.

When compared with positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year, Onana ranks in the 94th percentile for tackles and the 88th percentile for non-penalty expected goals (via FBRef).

Arsenal are on the lookout for further depth in the midfield, with 22-year-old Albert Sambi Lokonga having fallen out of favour under Arteta during the second half of last season.

Therefore, if the Gunners are keen on adding more potential talent to their youthful squad, signing Onana could be a shrewd piece of prospective business for the club.