Arsenal make signing defensive midfielder a priority in the summer transfer window in order to get the best out of Ozil
ARSENAL have made signing a defensive midfielder a priority in the summer transfer window in order to get the best out of Mesut Ozil.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is on the hunt for a new anchorman this summer to bolster his struggling back line and to help unleash Ozil.
The Gunners aren't short of defensive midfielders but boss Arteta is reportedly keen to recruit reinforcements to this area in the summer.
Matteo Guendouzi seems to be fighting for a future with the north London club.
He has made 22 league appearances throughout the campaign but has only started twice in the Prem since Arteta took charge of his first game on December 26.
And in the past it has been speculated whether Granit Xhaka lacks the defensive punch needed to give freedom to the likes of Ozil in the middle.
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The Gunners will not have wads of cash to spend on a star player in this position come summer, but they have already been linked with a number of midfielder aces.
Valencia star, Coler Soler, has emerged as a transfer target with Arteta reportedly a huge fan of the 23-year-old.
The Spaniard - who has chipped in with three goals in 27 games in all competitions this season - only recently signed a new deal to keep him at the Mestalla until 2023.
According to Spanish news outlet Marca, the La Liga outfit are struggling for cash and need £36million in player sales before June 30 in order to balance the books - so they may be forced to cash in on Soler.
The north London side are reportedly hoping to land Matty Longstaff on a free transfer from Newcastle in the summer.
The 20-year-old defensive midfielder's contract is set to expire in June and he has failed to agree new terms with the Toon.
Longstaff has caught Arteta's attention after scoring two goals in seven Premier League appearances this season, including a long-range stunner on his debut in a 1-0 win over Manchester United.
Bagging a bargain deal with Longstaff would work in the favour of the Gunners - who are running on a tight budget.
In February the Gunners were reportedly closing in on a £5million move for Le Havre midfielder Pape Gueye.
The midfielder is available on the cheap given his contract expires next year and the 21-year-old also dropped a subtle hint on Instagram that he would be moving to the Emirates after replying to a photo of Guendouzi.
Le Havre currently play in France's Ligue 2 but their star midfielder has been likened to French internationals N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba.
But the Gunners could face competition from Sevilla, Udinese and Fiorentina who are also said to be interested in the highly-rated youngster.
Rennes wonder kid, Eduardo Camavinga has been linked with Arsenal along with almost every big European club.
The 17-year-old became the first player born after January 1, 2002, to start a match in any of Europe's top five leagues last season.
His rise to the Rennes first team has been compared to Kylian Mbappe and has already made after becoming the youngest player to record an assist in the French top-flight.
The Gunners made an offer to sign him in the summer alongside Spurs but were rejected.
They will have to dig deep this time round if they are to tempt Camavinga to the Premier League and face a dog fight with Real Madrid.
The La Liga outfit are reportedly willing to pay up to £50million to secure the youngster's signature and reports in France suggest the club will demand a fee of around £83million for the talented starlet.
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Ozil has bagged just one goal and three assists this season but insists he is happy at the Emirates and has no plans to leave in the summer
The 31-year-old has been linked with a move to Turkish side Fenerbahce for some time but his agent is adamant he will not be sold.