Arsenal: Grading 11 potential Aaron Ramsey replacement

10. Dennis Praet / Grade 1.5 / Price £20-25m

Dennis Praet is the first of several guys on this list who I think would make nice additions, but who aren’t the Aaron Ramsey type, which is what lands him such a shoddy grade, despite still being an attractive player.

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Like Herrera, Praet just doesn’t have the offensive output to be in the same conversation as Ramsey. He only made one of his 33 starts last year at an attacking position, and in three seasons with Sampdoria, he has managed just four goals and seven assists.

Again, he has so much else to be excited about – defensive work rate, ball security – but he just doesn’t fit the billing of a Ramsey replacement. He would be more of a guy to bring in to to what Calum Chambers would be hoping to do, and it seems kind of unfair to deny Chambers the chance and instead spend money on someone like Praet to do it instead.

At 25-years-old, Praet has established what kind of player he is, and he isn’t Ramsey-esque. Unless Unai Emery sees something in him that he can mold into his liking and transform into an offensive spark, this one just doesn’t make sense from a replacement standpoint.

Although the connection to Lucas Torreira is always going to be something to boost his value, but again, not as a Ramsey midfielder.

On to No. 9.