He’s like prime Vieira: Arsenal open talks to sign £43m midfielder

If Declan Rice helps England to the World Cup over the next month, would itt be out of the question to suggest that the Arsenal midfielder is in line to win the Ballon d’Or?

Why not? After all, he has been the catalyst for Mikel Arteta‘s immense outfit, the difference-maker and the star of the show, upholding his manager’s ideals and implementing his ideas.

Thomas Tuchel recently described the 27-year-old as “one of the best midfielders in the world at the moment“, and how can anyone contest that? Rice is a consummate leader and a surpassing technician, driving his team forward.

And yet, Arteta and Emirates technical director Andrea Berta approach the summer transfer window with their focus on making changes in the middle of the park, finding an elite partner for the England superstar.

There’s no question that Arsenal’s attack could do with a few improvements this summer, but reinforcing the midfield may help steer Arteta’s system closer toward the Champions League-winning level, to be sure.

Martin Odegaard has left something to be desired, and Martin Zubimendi petered out over the latter stages of the campaign, physical and mental fatigue a factor, but a lack of physicality and dynamism hindering him too.

According to Corriere della Sera, via Sport Witness, Arsenal have established contact with Manu Kone’s entourage, looking to strike a deal for the AS Roma midfielder this summer.

Kone, 25, is one of Serie A’s top midfielders, and he could be available for around €50m (£43m) this summer, with Roma viewing him as one of their most profitable players, even after qualifying for the Champions League.

Why Kone can be Arsenal’s new Patrick Vieira

Rice is a phenomenon, surely Arsenal’s best midfielder since the days of Patrick Vieira. However, if Arteta welcomes Kone to the fold this summer, he may well find that it is the Frenchman who more accurately produces Vieira-esque performances in north London.

The Roma star has played a key part in guiding his side back into the Champions League for the first time since 2018/19, and though he’s not as good as Rice, that doesn’t mean his physical strength and natural progressiveness can’t help him play a similar role to Vieira, who starred under Arsene Wenger all those years ago.

A “monstrous” midfielder, so says talent scout Jacek Kulig, Kone is someone who could make a real difference for an Arsenal side who have already discovered their title-winning touch.

Kone might not be as crisp a dueller as Rice, but he would perfectly complement the Three Lions sensation, progressing play forward with greater regularity and intensity than his counterpart.

In that, Arsenal could hit the perfect midfield balance that wasn’t quite there this season. Zubimendi completed a dribble once every five matches on average, so there probably wasn’t enough dynamism in the engine room.

Are we nit-picking? Sure, but Arsenal are the champions of England, and Arteta’s overscrupulous tactical nature has paid dividends in thw quest for titles.

Kone, like his legendary countryman, has played plenty of football in Italy, but if he moves to the Emirates, it is there that he will find the most bountiful years of his year. The Arteta era is here to stay, and Kone would only enhance the project.

Whether Arsenal complete a deal remains to be seen, but Kone’s robust, all-action presence could see him cement himself as the perfect counterpoint to Rice, bringing relentless Vieira-like energy to complete the best midfield in English football.