Arsenal: Veering away from Jean Michael Seri concerning for the ‘why’

Per James Benge of the London Evening Standard, Arsenal are looking at other midfield targets instead of Jean Michael Seri. The news is concerning because of the ‘why’: Seri doesn’t want to come and the budget doesn’t stretch far enough.

Most people accept that Arsenal need to invest in the midfield position this summer. While there are different perspectives on what form of midfielder is required, and what such additions should and would mean for those already at the club, especially with the futures of one or two extremely uncertain, there are few that reject the need for at least one top-tier acquisition.

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One player that the club had reportedly highlighted as a possible solution was Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri, a smart and busy box-to-box midfielder who was equally adept with the ball at his feet and in ratting around opponents.

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It was a fairly popular option. He is a tidy player who certainly offers something different with Santi Cazorla now having departed. But there was a catch. Price. Initial reports stated that Seri could cost as much as £40 million. That figure has since slipped to £35 million, but nonetheless, it is a fairly steep price to pay for a player who has never played at the truly highest level. It is also a fairly significant portion of the Gunners’ summer budget.

That latter point has since become a more significant one. James Benge, of the London Evening Standard, has now reported that Arsenal are unlikely to pursue their interest in Seri and are looking to cast their net a little wider in search for the midfield solution this summer.

Veering away from Seri is not a particularly concerning development. While he is a good player who would better the squad, he is not a slam-dunk prospect who is an absolute must-sign player like say Mesut Ozil or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was.

The concerning factor is the ‘why’, the motivations for choosing to look towards other targets. Per the report by Benge, there are two implied reasons: Seri didn’t want to go and is waiting to see if there are better options available; Arsenal were not ready to commit the majority of their budget to him. Neither is especially encouraging.

It is understandable that Seri is weighing up his options. Manchester United and Chelsea are both reportedly interested, while Napoli, looking for a replacement for Jorginho, could also enter the race. All are more attractive prospects than a move to the Emirates.

What is less understandable is that Arsenal do not have the budget to buy more than just one player for £35 million and then have the cheek to claim that they are wanting to challenge for the Premier League title and other honours. I have written about this greatly in recent months, but the two simply don’t go hand-in-hand. Modern football dictates that spending is a necessity for success. Apparently, Arsenal do not understand that point.

Next: Arsenal: Top 3 midfield solutions

Missing out on Seri is not the end of the world. He would be a nice signing, but it is not disastrous if he goes elsewhere. But what is damning is the ‘why’. That is extremely concerning and casts a rather imposing shadow over the remainder of this summer transfer window.