Arsenal: Grading 11 potential Aaron Ramsey replacement

4. Joan Jordan / Grade 6.5 / £13m

Probably the most uninspiring name on this list, but name value alone doesn’t make a successful transfer, as Matteo Guendouzi happily proved last year. Joan Jordan has been rocking it out at Eibar, and at 24-years-old, he’s now at that point in his career where he needs to take the step to the next level, which is usually the prologue to an explosion onto the big stage.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Joan Jordan has the makings of a player who, when put around better players, becomes so much better himself. He has a nose for goal, scoring four and assisting four this year to add to his six goals and four assists in his first year.

He is a gritty player, not afraid to make tough tackles, and he is a growing spark in the attack, as he created more chances per 90 minutes than any Arsenal player this year.

Plus, he’s incredibly secure on the ball and knows how to bypass defenders.

The first time Jordan was asked to make the step up from a peripheral player at Espanyol to a starter at Eibar, he did so with resounding success. Asking him to do it again, if we trust the mathematics here, would exponentially improve him.

And, of course, the cheap release clause helps him out as well.

It’s a good investment, a solid bet on him being ready from the off, and certainly a better option than Denis Suarez.

Getting into the exciting names here, with No. 3 coming up next.