Arsenal join Liverpool in Josip Brekalo transfer pursuit

Securing a new creative midfielder ranks highly on the ever-growing list of necessities at Arsenal in the summer transfer window, one even the permanent signing of Martin Odegaard may not totally solve.

Taking the Norwegian back to north London even on another loan deal – a scenario that grows less likely by the hour – is highest on the wishlist given how he’s settled into the club and adapted to the Premier League as a whole.

There is still no final verdict on whether that deal can be concluded as murmurs from Spain one day claim Real Madrid are open to selling then the next insist they see him as a future world class talent that isn’t for sale at any price. Who knows.

If there is Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe in the squad, that’s healthy options, albeit not quite enough. Dani Ceballos, operating more recently as a wandering No. 8 will not be kept on and the future of Joe Willock remains a tense subject as he could fetch a handsome fee but with each impressive display edges himself closer towards Arsenal contention.

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Arsenal join Liverpool in Josip Brekalo transfer pursuit ahead of summer window

What Arsenal do need from whichever midfielder they sign is goals. Boasting a grand total of three scored by midfielders in the Premier League this season – one of which was a Granit Xhaka free-kick – the issue is stark.

As per Calcio Mercato, a move for Wolfsburg’s Josip Brekalo may be with an eye on solving this issue.

The Gunners, Liverpool, AC Milan, Roma and Atletico Madrid are all mentioned as interested parties in the Croatian, who may be a familiar name to some having been linked with Arsenal back in 2016 when he was just a 17-year-old wonderkid at Dinamo Zagreb.

His numbers this season aren’t awe-inspiring with four goals and assists apiece in all competitions, but he will be free to leave for somewhere hovering around £17m. Key to note is that he isn’t an outright creative midfielder, and instead a left-winger. However, he can and has operated as a No. 10 before, which may be in the thinking.

Is this someone to lift the quality of the squad for next season? You wouldn’t think so. He did bag 14 goal involvements last season which may be what interested parties are after, but looking at a winger who could move into central areas is not the solution to Arsenal’s lack of goals from midfield. It just isn’t. Furthermore, the less said about his off-field antics the better.

Keeping an eye on a player is very different to outright throwing your hat in the ring, so for this one can hope he’s an option in mind but not close to the top of the pile. Arsenal need men in the middle of the park who will make the net ripple, not wingers-cum-No.10’s whose numbers this season don’t make for great reading.