He’s better than Zubimendi: Arsenal have opened talks to sign £70m star

Arsenal are on the brink of greatness, but Mikel Arteta has an insatiable appetite for success, and he is already preparing for a summer transfer that could cement their position as Europe’s new superpower.

How to improve a team at the top? Well, as much as Arsenal have been phenomenal in their growth and determination and resilience, there are a few tactical blemishes that need covering over.

In attack, the Gunners haven’t been quite as fluent as they once were. Viktor Gyokeres is banging in the goals, but he’s not the complete package by any stretch, and the supporting in attack have left a lot to be desired.

It’s not just the goalscorers, though. Creatively, Arsenal could raise their level, and with that in mind, Arteta and Emirates technical director Andrea Berta are homing in on a new playmaking midfielder.

Arsenal in talks to sign Premier League midfielder

Declan Rice is the cream of the crop, surely threatened by only Bruno Fernandes in his quest for the PFA Premier League Player of the Year award.

However, it would be fair to say that the likes of Martin Odegaard and Martin Zubimendi have punched below their weight throughout different stages of the campaign.

Odegaard is the skipper, and he proved during the narrow victory over West Ham United last weekend that he has world-class quality in his boots. Zubimendi, however, is not the key cog in Arteta’s midfield.

According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal could be looking at an upgrade in West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, with talks believed to have been held as the Gunners lodged an initial enquiry.

The former Sporting CP man is valued at £70m, with a host of Premier League rivals, such as Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United also making contact/

Fernandes is believed to favour a move to Old Trafford above all other options, but he would hardly turn his nose at a concerted effort from Arsenal, who value his technical ability and tactical versatility across midfield.

Why Fernandes could be a Zubimendi upgrade at Arsenal

Rice can play in any number of positions, but he is perhaps at his best when in a deep-lying berth, so dynamic and intelligent on the ball while boasting a combativeness that was developed during his days as a centre-back at West Ham.

Now, Fernandes could emerge as something of a repeat, playing in a more advanced role that would be vacated by Zubimendi.

It would be unreasonable to consider the Spain international’s future in north London – he has played a big role in climbing to the top of the English and European ladder, but there’s no question that his level has dipped over the past several months.

Fernandes, 21, has made significant progress over the past few months, hailed as a “superstar” of a talent by football writer Joost van der Leij, already effortless on the ball and with a physical strength that emphasises his world-class potential.

Indeed, in the Premier League this season, the Brazilian prospect has completed 61% of his dribbles and won 5.6 duels per game on average. He has also averaged 2.9 tackles per match, so boasts the roundedness needed to replace a maestro like Zubimendi.

Zubimendi, for all his silkiness in possession, has only created one big chance all season, rarely progressing the ball forward. That in itself is not a negative, but there’s no question that Arsenal have lacked some spark in the centre this season, and Fernandes could bring that and then some.

Fernandes is still so young, but he has already established himself as a standout player with Southampton and the Irons in the Premier League, fighting against relegation thus far but proving that he has the quality to hit higher notes.

His natural aptitude on the ball would blend perfectly with Rice’s all-action brilliance. This is the up-and-coming talent for Arteta and Berta to go for.