Arsenal aim to raid free agent market for Austrian midfielder

The amount of money that Arsenal will have to spend isn’t known to anyone outside the club. Every summer there is talk of a ‘war chest’, with the only certainty being that where they finish in the table will impact their finance.

Chasing a top four place with just four matches left to play of the Premier League season, if Mikel Arteta’s side are to secure a Champions League place they will be in a far stronger position to dip into the transfer window than if they finish in fifth.

The allure of elite European competition will put them in good stead to go out and bolster their ranks, as will the greater cash injection, yet that doesn’t mean a bargain won’t be pounced on should it arise.

It was reported earlier in April by the Telegraph that Arsenal had set their sights on Hoffenheim’s Florian Grillitsch. Being watched ahead of this summer alongside by fellow European and even Champions League outfits, it is his contract situation that has helped garner such attention.

Arsenal aim to raid Hoffenheim for their Austrian midfielder Florian Grillitsch, who is available on a free agent transfer in the summer

With his deal due to expire at the end of the season he will join the growing number of Bosman transfers set to take place in the summer, leaving the 26-year-old with the continent as his oyster as far as options go.

Featuring his the Austrian national team over 30 times, Grillitsch is also richly experienced in the Bundesliga where he is enjoying his seventh top-flight campaign as Hoffenheim sit six points adrift of sixth place Cologne in eighth.

Having heard the news from UK outlets, it’s now being corroborated by SportBILD (Sport Witness), who claim that the Gunners are ‘trying to lure’ the versatile midfielder to north London with the offer of Champions League football.

While that is an offer they can’t promise at this stage, it would appear that Edu and co are laying the groundwork in the hope they do succeed in that regard. Sevilla are also mentioned as interested in Grillitsch, whose excellent passing number stand out. Solid across all distribution metrics, his 99th percentile passing accuracy for long balls is superb, a trait he can show off either as a central defender, a No. 6 or even as a more box-to-box option – the latter isn’t his best position.

With it no secret that Arteta likes players capable of operating in numerous positions, it’s interest that makes sense from the club’s part.

Grillitsch is due to turn 27 years old in August, which might normally be touch and go on the recruitment strategy side, but with experienced heads like Lacazette, Elneny, Mari and possibly Granit Xhaka all departing, someone with a bit of know-how will be needed. Given there is no transfer fee involved, the age may be less of a factor.

Where he’d play or whether he’d come in and effectively be Elneny’s squad replacement is anyone’s guess – he’s actually helped out in defence more times than he’s played in midfield this season – but with a growing number of links emerging it is one to look out for.