Arsenal: 3 financially viable signings to fill creativity void

1. Thiago Almada

While concerns regarding the step up from Austrian football to the Premier League are valid, Thiago Almada, who is currently plying his trade in the Argentine Primera Diviso, will face an even tougher challenge. Almada, of course, is not as far down the line as Szoboszlai is in terms of development, but his ceiling could be higher and he might be cheaper, too.

The man dubbed the ‘next Lionel Messi’ can operate as either an attacking midfielder or as a winger and has attracted the attention of Europe’s elite. Up until now, Manchester United have been favourites to land his signature but no formal offer has been made. A move to nab Almada from the Red Devils’ grasp could be wise.

While it seems unlikely that Almada would walk straight into the first team, with South American talent, you just never know. As Gabriel Martinelli showed this season, the very best talents can make the step up from a relatively poor level of league football and perform from the off at a higher one. One should not expect such an impact from Almada, admittedly, but the idea of him stamping his mark over a first-team squad place is not implausible.

While Arsenal would probably be better off buying a player who could deliver a more guaranteed impact to fill the creative void, a move for Almada might be a more prudent long-term play. He could start to flourish as Arteta’s project begins to hit form. He would be worth the gamble on the cheap.