Arsenal on red alert over Denis Zakaria free transfer as Swiss star stalls on new Borussia Monchengladbach contract
ARSENAL have been alerted to the possibility of signing Swiss international midfielder Denis Zakaria on a free transfer next summer.
The Borussia Monchengladbach star, 24, is in the final year of his current contract and is stalling over a new deal.
And the powerful ball winner - who has been compared to Patrick Vieira in the past - is ready to listen to offers from England.
That is certain to interest Arsenal’s recruitment team, who are looking for midfield reinforcements with the futures of Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Mohammed Elneny up in the air.
Egyptian international Elneny is out of contract this summer and seems certain to leave at the end of the season.
And versatile England star Maitland-Niles is still not convinced of his long-term prospects at the Emirates after a deadline move to Everton was blocked by manager Mikel Arteta.
Zakaria has been a first-team regular at Gladbach since joining from Swiss club Young Boys in 2017.
The defensive midfielder - and international team-mate of Granit Xhaka - is able to play at centre-half as well as in central midfield.
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He starred in Borussia Monchengladbach’s shock 5-0 win against Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, when he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season and an automatic ban.
Zakaria replaced the suspended Xhaka during Switzerland’s Euro quarter-final clash with Spain in the summer.
He is regarded as the Arsenal midfielder’s long-term international successor.
Zakaria will be free to start negotiating with overseas clubs in the New Year.
The midfielder is expected to demand wages in the region of £80,000 a week if he moves as a free agent.
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