The Arsenal fans in the Transfer Tavern are excited about the potential arrival of a player whom they believe will completely transform their midfield next season.
According to a recent report from The Guardian, Arsenal have agreed a £26.4 million fee with Sampdoria over the purchase of one of the most highly-regarded young midfielders on the continent, namely Lucas Torreira. The 22-year-old Uruguay international has been selected for international duty in Russia and is expected to play a key role in his side’s bid to lift the ultimate prize in world football.
Uruguay are fancied as a surprise package to watch during the tournament, and one of the main reasons for that opinion relates to the vast improvement they have experienced with regards to their central midfield options in the past 4 years. Torreira belongs to a group of midfielders who are trusted in possession and not merely a set of tough-tackling destroyers like the previous generation of Urguayan midfielders were, but he is more than capable of doing the dirty work in midfield as well.
Torreira strikes a fine balance between defensive solidity and ball-playing creativity in the midfield anchor role, and he is expected to go from strength to strength in the years to come, but if Arsenal hit a snag in negotiations this summer they should instead turn their attention towards a bargain free signing in Max Meyer (valued at £16.2 million by Transfermarkt). The German midfielder missed out on World Cup selection due to the intense competition for places within Joachim Lowe’s squad, so he will now focus on the future of his club career which is currently unclear.
Meyer – also 22 – will leave Schalke when his contract expires at the end of the month and is currently searching for an ideal destination. Although he established his name in the Bundesliga as an attacking midfielder, Meyer underwent a transformation last season and adapted to a deep-lying role where he used his ability to both dictate the tempo of proceedings and break-up play to great effect.
Considering he will be available on a free transfer, Arsenal would be foolish not to offer him a contract this summer if they eventually miss out on Torreira to a rival club. Unai Emery is making good progress in the transfer market already this summer, and if he manages to complete a deal for either of these two players then Arsenal will be set to add a significant layer of quality to their midfield options.
Arsenal fans – thoughts? Let us know below!
