Kevin Campbell has urged Arsenal to make their move and sign Yves Bissouma by paying Brighton’s asking price this month in a £40 million deal.
Arsenal’s need for a midfielder has become a glaring issue in the ongoing transfer window, with Mikel Arteta facing an acute shortage of players in the position. With Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny away with their national sides at the Africa Cup of Nations, Granit Xhaka suspended, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles departing for AS Roma.
Arsenal have been left with Albert Sambi Lokonga as their only viable senior midfielder in the squad. Fortunately, their high-profile game against Tottenham was postponed amid a spate of roster issues at the Emirates. The temporary respite from playing is not expected to put them off pursuing midfield targets this month.
Juventus’s Arthur Melo recently appeared on their radar, while talks of an ambitious move for Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans have gathered momentum. While most of the linked players might end up suiting Arsenal’s style under Mikel Arteta, the club needs a defensive midfielder to improve its overall quality.
Yves Bissouma’s name has long been mentioned as a potential target for nearly 18 months now. Arsenal were expected to sign the Malian last summer but ended up spending a major chunk of their transfer budget on his Brighton teammate Ben White, who has been a revelation this season.
With 18 months left on Bissouma’s current deal, Brighton’s best time for getting top value could be this month as his price could drop next summer. Although the Seagulls’ star might prefer joining a club challenging for a top-six spot, Aston Villa are also interested in the midfielder.
Kevin Campbell has now urged Arsenal to pay Brighton’s asking price and sign Bissouma in the current window. He told Football Insider how the Gunners might benefit from adding the Malian in their squad and suggested they may need more than just one midfielder to fulfil their squad’s potential.
Campbell said, “Don’t mess around, Arsenal. This is a move that has been spoken about for 18 months, and I think we will do it. Just do the deal. Go and get him in. Pay the £40 million. I think Arsenal need two midfielders, though, if I am honest with you.”
“Lokonga is a good young player, but he is not strong enough to be a mainstay in that midfield yet. We need some experience in there. Bissouma is young and has experience. I think they need another one as well though. Bissouma would make us so much stronger for the second half of the season.”
Even though Bissouma is away with Mali at the AFCON, a transfer may still transpire if clubs agree and pay up Brighton’s valuation of the midfielder. They had reportedly quoted Aston Villa around £50 million, although recent suggestions point at £40 million being enough to convince the Seagulls into selling their star man.
