7 Arsenal midfield transfer targets to watch during international break

Manuel Locatelli – Sassuolo & Italy

Manuel Locatelli is singing a song that is emanating out of Italy’s Modena province and being heard across the continent. Whoever picks up the hymn sheet and joins in will be the real victors.

Deemed not of the standard required at AC Milan, the playmaker joined Sassuolo on an initial loan with obligation to buy in the summer of 2018, where the trust he wasn’t feeling at San Siro has raised his level to where it is now.

So adept at picking the ball up on the half-turn and immediately seeking a teammate, he adds speed of thought and prestige into the Sassuolo engine room. A visionary in every sense, he operates on the left side of a midfield partnership in a 4-2-3-1 setup, one that allows him to dictate the pace of phases and use outstanding long-ball accuracy to pick runners.

Even at standstill, his weight of pass is a delight. Such is his role in the team, he controls all the moves Sassuolo build, attempting the second most passes in Serie A this season only behind teammate and defender Gian Marco Ferrari. His accuracy sits in the upper 80’s, which is impressive when factoring the sheer volume of balls he plays.

Equally, no player has made more passes into the final third than his 198 this term. He’s also third for progressive passes. He is a deep-lying playmaker if there ever was one.

That doesn’t mean he’s a regista, as he boasts better mobility and is active out of possession. In other words, Locatelli is a star, not in the making, just waiting for a platform to shine.