Why Arsenal should break the bank for Frenkie de Jong

Frenkie really is de Jong that I want (sorry…).

The Barcelona star has drawn Premier League attention for some time and, in July 2022, he seemed on the verge of completing a big-money switch to Manchester United - until his own refusal to leave Spain scuppered it.

However, Spanish journalist Lluís Canut now claims that de Jong is no longer “closing the door” on departure as the Catalans’ recent European failings and ongoing domestic struggles are believed to have left him disillusioned.

This news will, naturally, cause ears to perk up across the continent and the Dutchman’s personal wishes suggest Arsenal could well be his next destination, with the “Marc Overmars route” (Ajax-Arsenal-Barcelona) being one he has previously expressed interest in.             

3 reasons why Arsenal should go all out to sign Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong

De Jong is open to a stint in north London, and here are three reasons why Arsenal should break the bank for his services.

1. Perfect fit for the Arsenal control hub

While Mikel Arteta sparked anger last summer for not replacing Granit Xhaka, a swoop for Frenkie de Jong would certainly justify his patience.

The 26-year-old possesses all the qualities one needs to thrive in our LCM role: composure to resist the press, outstanding vision to spot (and pick out) attacking runs, and a ball-carrying ability that is unrivalled among all midfielders in Europe’s top-five leagues - registering 4.68 progressive runs per 90 minutes.

There is still some way to go before De Jong matches Xhaka for defensive work though, and he currently lacks the physicality to screen a backline for long periods. But in-game intelligence allows him to make vital interceptions and our structure could help mitigate his recovery troubles, at least until he improves in that regard.

A midfielder ranks high on the summer wish list and, although he would command a sizeable fee, De Jong looks like the ideal choice.  

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