Arsenal leading race for £19m defender and eye Thomas Partey partner

It’s just under three months until the summer transfer window opens and already Arsenal have been linked with enough players to build an entire squad. The latest batch of speculation claims a defensive restructure is being eyed alongside the ideal Thomas Partey partner.

All focus is fixed on the remaining fixtures both in the Premier League and Europa League for Arsenal, not just for the results themselves. Fail to build on their mid-table position in the league and push for a European place, as is almost certain, while also being eliminated from the Europa League will spell catastrophe.

European football, even if it is the second tier, provides a cash injection that is vital to ensuring player wages are paid and to account for the lack of matchday revenue – among other outlays – as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Recording losses for the year ending May 2020 of £47.8m, at least another £100m will be added for next season’s financials. In short, Europe is essential, and it looks like being in the Champions League via the Europa League is the only viable route.

Arsenal leading race for £19m defender Evan N’Dicka and eye Thomas Partey long-term partner

All of which will impact what can be done in the summer transfer market. Selling players will go ahead as planned as a host of first-team players are transfer listed, but those brought in is a different matter.

As per the Express, Arsenal are pushing through with plans on two players, the first as part of what is referred to as a ‘defensive restructure’. The report states that Mikel Arteta’s side are leading the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan N’Dicka, with Calum Chambers heading for the exit door.

One player coming in and one player leaving hardly constitutes a ‘defensive restructure’, more like…well, a regular transfer? The Frenchman is an ever-present for the Bundesliga side who are launching an impressive assault on the top four, losing just three matches all season.

In regular talks with the centre-backs representatives, a deal is said to be in the offing for £19m once the window opens.

Why, though? Key to this is that N’Dicka is a left-footed central defender who operates on the left side of a back three. Of all the positions across the entire pitch, left centre-back is one of Arsenal’s strongest in depth. Gabriel has been magnificent and Pablo Mari is only slightly behind him. £19m to bolster an area in need of no reinforcing makes absolutely zero sense.

The other player in their sights, however, is exciting.

Arsenal Speak to Yves Bissouma Representatives Over Summer Deal

Widely reported since last summer is the growing interest from Arsenal in Yves Bissouma. The Brighton enforcer quietly goes about his business on the south coast but the noises surrounding his future are anything but.

From links with Liverpool to learning he is an Arsenal fan, the regular updates on his future are gravitating their way towards a move to north London. Which, again, rests on where Arteta’s side finish up this season.

Unlike other potential midfield targets such as André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Brighton will be able to command a large fee for Bissouma even if they are relegated from the Premier League. The Malian does not have a relegation clause written into his contract.

As previously reported, Bissouma is open to the idea of leaving the Seagulls and would welcome a move to north London at the end of the campaign. Arsenal are in dire need of central midfield reinforcements with just five currently on the books, one of whom is only on loan while two others are likely to leave the club in the summer.

Bissouma has a growing reputation as one of the finer holding midfielders in the division even with Brighton’s current struggles, and Arteta adoration for the African has seen him listed as one of the the club’s top targets.

The N’Dicka move? Best forget. A move for Bissouma? Speculation is only going to increase.