Arsenal: 4 crucial upcoming transfers in summer window

3. Central Midfield

Players linked:

• Manuel Locatelli
• Renato Sanches
• Ruben Neves
• Franck Kessie
• Eduardo Camavinga
• Yves Bissouma
• Denis Zakaria
• Piotr Zieliński

The above list could easily be twice as large if it included every link since the start of the summer suggested by even the most unreliable sources, while already it features a good fistful of questionable ones.

Regardless of how many are being linked, one has to make their way through the Emirates doors working on the basis that Lokonga’s signing goes through as predicted.

Manuel Locatelli is the name on everyone’s lips at the minute as Arsenal show concrete interest, even if the overwhelming likelihood is that once Juventus cough up the money Sassuolo are after he will move to Turin. There is still hope, however faint.

It’s such an imperative position and arguably the most important of all. Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny, should the latter stay, will both be off for six weeks in the winter for AFCON, leaving only Lokonga and Joe Willock (another uncertainty) left to man the fort with the Premier League untested Miguel Azeez.

If anything there is a case for two to be brought in, although finances and realism dictate that that will be beyond the Gunners’ reach.

For what it is Arteta wants to mould Arsenal into, no position has more say on the matter than the man to partner Partey. Xhaka’s shoes are the biggest to fill and of all the players who’re brought in this window none have to be as successful and ready to hit the ground running as central midfield.