Arsenal have held talks with Andre Trindade as they are open to welcoming more signings after a spending spree. However, reports suggest that Fulham are leading the race to sign the Brazilian international. Nevertheless, Arsenal should never be written off when signing Brazilian players, courtesy of their Sporting Director Edu Gaspar.
The 22-year-old midfielder recently made his international debut and has been named one of the most talented midfielders of his age in Brazil. The Gunners have had a good track with Brazilian players ever since Edu is leading their plans. Trindade could be another one in the list considering the potential he has shown in the Brazilian Serie A.
According to 90min, Arsenal held talks with the representatives of Andre Trindade. Fulham are hopeful are landing their target even after talks with some European giants. The report adds that his representatives had talks with Barcelona, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, Tottenham and West Ham. This interest suggests the level of quality Trindade possesses.
Given his strength and infrequent defeat by stronger opponents, Andre Trindade can be referred to as a “midfield bully.” With uncertainty looming over Thomas Partey’s future, Arsenal could use a physical player to assert dominance in midfield. The Gunners will need someone to hold the fort alongside their marquee signing of Declan Rice this summer.
Arsenal are claimed to be rivalling Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur for a rising Brazilian prospect.
Andre Trindade, 22, has been a key part of Fluminense’s midfield since making his first team debut, aged 19. (Football London) pic.twitter.com/StR05GQlIK— Highbury Headlines (@ArsenalNews93) July 16, 2023
With the departure of Granit Xhaka, signing a midfielder has become more important. The Gunners do have some makeshift options in their squad but having a player playing in his preferred position could change the whole game. Moreover, Trindade could help Arsenal in ball retention and keeping the ball with his physicality.
Why Arsenal could use the help of Andre Trindade?
Arsenal are on a spending spree having signed Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice. Clearly, they intend to push for winning the league and cups next season. After coming so close to winning the league last season, the Gunners have a really good chance of winning the league this year.
However, they have learned their lesson and understood the importance of squad depth. Despite signing their three priority targets, there are still a few gaps in the squad. The Gunners might need a right-back, a striker and even a backup option for Bukayo Saka. Nevertheless, if Mikel Arteta manages these shortcomings, they could be a real threat next season.
Arsenal could also use a midfielder having lost Granit Xhaka to Bayer Leverkusen. Jorginho, Leandro Trossard, Fabio Vieira, and Martin Odegaard all of them could play the role of Xhaka. However, all of them lack the aggression and physicality that the Swiss international had. Andre Trindade could be and understudy to a long-term replacement of Granit Xhaka.
Considering his potential, Trindade could help Arsenal build a midfield that could cause fear in the opposition. Both Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard are long-term players for the Gunners. Arteta needs to decide whether he wants a quick fix or a long-term fix. ALthough Fulham are hopeful of completing the signing of Trindade, Arsenal can snatch him away if they decide to.
Arsenal have no significant player needs entering the final week of preseason. The club is at least two-deep at every position except central midfield, though a number of players could play that role.
Ramsdale
(Turner)
Timber, Saliba, Magalhaes, Zinchenko
(White), (Kiwior), (Holding), (Tierney)
Rice, Odegaard, Havertz
(Partey), (Vieira), (Smith-Rowe)
Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
(Nelson), (Nketiah, Balogun), Trossard)
Arsenal also have a number of squad players: Tomiyasu, Elneny, Lokonga, Pepe, Soares, Runarsson, Trusty, and Marquinhos – Some but not all of these players will leave permanently or on loan giving the gunners exceptional depth; though quality is an issue in some cases.
Nelson has been good in his limted run outs, but he has not had a stellar loan or run of games showing he is ready to play a major role at a top four club. Nketiah has Arteta’s faith, though why is a mystery to any objective observer; while Balogun who starred in Ligue 1 is not trusted, despite outperforming Nketiah in every way.
Marquinhos was underwhelming on loan, while Trusty was very good for Birmingham; by the Gunners are stocked at center back. Pepe was average for Nice, but the club could not afford to keep him, while Arsenal seem determined to drive him out of the club, clearly trying to avoid paying the final year of his contract by forcing him to train alone. It is a tactic that Arsenal management have used over and over, though it did not work awith Mesut Ozil and with Aubameyang it sort of worked, but cost the Gunners top four. Good job Mikel.
Albert Sambi Lokonga looks to be a young player who showed potential, but is just not ready. Another loan or a permanent sale seems likely. Runarasson got very few opportunities at Arsenal and did not do well with the few he got. He seems unlikely to get a second chance. Elneny is a solid squadp layer who does his job, never complains, and accepts his role. He seems likely to stay absent an unlikely big money offer.
Tomiyasu looks like he is about to enter the ‘I squandered my career making good (not great) money at a club that will never let me play” zone that has gobbled up players like Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Calum Chambers, Rob Holding, Fabio Vieira, Eddie Nketiah, and is threatening to do the same to Emile Smith Rowe.
Overall, Arsenal have a squad at least as good as Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United, but are short of matching Manchester City player for player at striker (Jesus is no Haaland and Alvarez is orders of magnitude better than Nketiah. Balogun could tip the tables Arsenal’s way, but he seems unlikely to get the chance), right back (Timber, Tomiyasu, and White are not Kyle Walker and never will be), goalkeeper (This is closer than people think, but Ederson is the perfect keeper for City’s system, Ramsdale is… close), defensive midfield (Rice is the second-best holding midfielder in the league, Rodri is the best, Kalvin Phillips, despite few chances, is at least on par with Partey) and center back (Gabriel Magalhaes is a very good player, but he is not in the same class as Diaz, Laporte, Akanji or Stones). Saliba is close, but not as good as Diaz (Not many are).
The good news is; on the wings, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard, Nelson, and Smith-Rowe collectively outperform Grealish and Foden. Mahrez is a huge loss, and City never replaced Sterling. At attacking midfield, Odegaard is emerging as world class, and is probably on par with Bernardo.
At central midfield, Kovacic is a proven professional, while Havertaz seems to struggle when he is asked to carry a big burden. Kovacic is a better all around, box-to-box player, while Havertz is a better attacking player. It will be interesting to see if Arteta will sacrifice defense to get Havertz on the pitch.
Regardless of rumors, further additions look more likely to create further imbalances and fuel discontent than add quality.