Arsenal are ready to include a substitute player as they explore the possibility of signing Leicester attacking midfielder James Maddison.
The Gunners have already conquered Belgian midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga ahead of the new season, as well as Portuguese defender Nuno Tavares, and are also close to landing England’s Ben White from Brighton for £ 50m.
Arsenal are keen to bring in more players this summer and Maddison fits the bill / Robin Jones / Getty Images
But in particular the midfield has been an important area identified by the Arsenal hierarchy in the big recruitment and 90 minutes revealed in June that in addition to a midfielder, fullback and goalkeeper, the club is targeting two new midfielders, which is now Sambi Lokonga and another .
Maddison has long been on the list of options and the Daily Mail writes that Arsenal are now reinforcing this interest by exploring ways to get a potential deal done.
It is said that £ 50 million would not be enough to tempt Leicester to sell Maddison, which led the Gunners to consider offering a player to sweeten the deal. Wing Reiss Nelson or midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles are the ones they would be willing to let go in the hope of tempting Leicester.
Maddison has a long-term deal with the Foxes until 2024, which he signed less than a year ago and is reported to have been the subject of a £ 70m rejected offer from an unknown Premier League club last summer. But it is said that Arsenal believe that Leicester will negotiate.
However, the Gunners are not only targeting Maddison in the hunt for new midfielders. 90 minutes recently confirmed that they have asked to be part of any development around the future of Lille midfielder Renato Sanches, who has been rejuvenated at the club since 2019.
By using intermediaries to contact the French champions, Arsenal have asked about availability and potential price tags. It would not come as a surprise to see Lille make money on their 25 million euros if there is a suitable offer and Sanchez is ready to prove himself in the Premier League after the disappointment of his bad loan at Swansea 2017/18.
Little Renato Sanches is another midfielder on Arsenal’s radar / John Berry / Getty Images
Arsenal are also keeping an eye on Sporting CP and Portugal, who are attacking midfielder Pedro Goncalves, who has effectively replaced Bruno Fernandes in Lisbon.
The club’s primary criteria for new registrations this summer is that goals should be younger than 25, with the potential to both improve on the pitch and increase its value.
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