Arsenal Submit Bid for Lille Winger Edon Zhegrova, Arteta a Keen Admirer

As per latest reports, Arsenal are hot on their heels once again as they find themselves plotting a move for LOSC Lille forward Edon Zhegrova as their fifth signing of this summer transfer window. Mikel Arteta is said to be a keen admirer of the winger and wants to bring him to the Emirates this summer.

The Gunners have already completed the signings of Fabio Vieira, Marquinhos, Matt Turner and Gabriel Jesus. Nevertheless, manager Mikel Arteta wants to increase his squad depth ahead of the 2022/23 season as they would be competing in the UEFA Europa League.

The Spanish manager wants to add another right winger to his side. The North London side were very keen on signing Leeds United’s Brazilian forward Raphinha, but the player remained fixated on joining Barcelona. Therefore, Arsenal turned their attention towards Lille winger Edon Zhegrova, who has been linked with a move to the Emirates since April.

As reported by Mirror, Arsenal are pushing forth to sign Edon Zhegrova this summer and have submitted a bid worth around £6 million. The report suggests that the Kosovo international caught the eye of the Gunners boss during the Spaniard’s six-month stay in France.

Exclusive

Arsenal has submitted an official offer for 23 year old winger Edon Zhegrova. 🇽🇰 player has impressed the english club this year at Lille, after moving from Basel in January for 7m euros. #arsenal #transfer #zhegrova

— Arlind Sadiku (@arlindsadiku89) July 6, 2022

Player Profile

Hailed as the ‘Kosovan Messi’, Zhegrova first rose through the ranks of K.R.C. Genk, a Belgian-based football club. In 2017, he got his big opportunity in the Belgian top flight. During his time with Genk, he appeared 27 times, scoring five goals and grabbing three assists (stats via transfermarkt).

The 23-year-old then made a move to FC Basel 1893 – a Swiss Super League side – initially on loan in 2019. He would then sign a three-year deal to remain permanently at Basel as his performances continued to show through.

What a player Edon Zhegrova is 💎 https://t.co/Rq8qaa0j0s

— The Arsenal Times (@TheAFCTimes) July 6, 2022

Often being positioned on the right flank of the field, the Lille winger is well-known for his swift moves and dribbling ability. The 23-year-old trickster would go on to feature 74 times for the Swiss club, scoring 11 goals and providing 17 assists (stats via transfermarkt).

The Kosovo forward recently signed a four-year contract with Ligue 1 club Lille this January. The reported fee was said to be around €7 million. Zhegrova made just thirteen league appearances, scoring twice for the club and assisting once (stats via Transfermarkt). Despite that, it seems that Mikel Arteta and co. still aim to sign the young midfielder.

Verdict

In last year’s summer transfer window, Arsenal exceeded the other Premier League clubs for having spent hefty coins. The club went on a spending spree, with the bill skyrocketing to almost £140 million as per the reports.

Edon Zhegrova could well be the missing piece of the puzzle that completes the midfield void at Arsenal. Therefore, moving to the Emirates Stadium this summer would be sensible. Arteta clearly wants some depth when it comes to his wide-attacking positions, especially after the recently failed pursuit of Leeds United winger Raphinha, who has meanwhile moved to Barcelona for around £68 million including add-ons. The 23-year-old fits a similar profile as the Brazilian, with fantastic dribbling ability and is a cheaper alternative.

Lille, like most clubs, were caught up in the turmoil of the financial crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, it would be essential for them to raise funds, and they will have to do it by selling some of their players. Zhegrova could be one of them, given that he seems like a potential suitor for the Gunners and would fit well into the bargain.

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