Early reports mentioned that Arsenal had shown interest in Olympique Lyon’s Lucas Paqueta to reinforce their midfield department. However, recent reports suggest the Gunners would have to ward off interest from Newcastle United to sign the Brazilian international. Newcastle will be in the market to sign players for various positions.
Since the winter transfer window, Arsenal have been looking for midfielders. However, they could not sign anyone during the January transfer window and the disadvantages of having a thin squad are now being reflected. The Gunners have now lost three Premier League games in a row to Crystal Palace, Brighton and Southampton. To avoid such a situation next season, the board is busy planning transfers right now.
According to The Chronicle (via Metro), Arsenal are likely to make a move for Olympique Lyon’s Lucas Paqueta in the summer. They want to target him, having missed out on his former teammate Bruno Guimaraes, who joined the Magpies in January.
However, the Tyneside club is again planning to leapfrog the Gunners and sign the Brazilian from Lyon. Early reports stated that the French club is ready to listen to offers for the 24-year-old midfielder, whose contract runs till 2025.
Lucas Paqueta arrived at Lyon from AC Milan in September 2020 for €20 million (around £17 million). Since his arrival, he has become an important player for the club. He has already played 72 matches in less than 2 seasons and has 19 goals and 12 assists to his name across all competitions (stats via Transfermarkt).
This season in Ligue 1, the attacking midfielder has 7 goals and 5 assists in 29 appearances (stats via WhoScored). The former Flamengo player also has 31 caps with the Selecao and has scored 7 goals with the national team.
An attacking midfielder like Lucas Paqueta, who has the ability to score goals, is of great interest to Arsenal as Arteta’s team has struggled to score goals this season. In 31 Premier League games so far, the Gunners have managed to score just 45 goals. They have failed to find the net in 3 of their last 5 league games.
The North London club did sign Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid last season, for £30million. However, with the club almost confirmed for European qualification next season, signings are required. And if they manage to finish in the Champions League spots, Edu and the board will have to provide Arteta with able signings.
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Manager Mikel Arteta reassured the Arsenal fans that he wants to further improve the team like last season when the club spent over £100million. Earlier in April, he said:
“I am expecting so, yes. I think both competitions (the Champions League and Europa League) require a much larger squad because the amount of games you play is much bigger in both, so I don’t think (which you qualify for) makes a lot of difference or changes a lot.
“If you can financially afford it and we don’t have to do the turnaround in the squad that we’ve had to do, if you ask me what I want it’s 22 outfield players and three goalkeepers.”
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