Brighton & Hove Albion hand Manchester United and Arsenal fresh hope regarding a late move for Yves Bissouma.
According to Turkish journalist, Ekren Konur on Twitter, Brighton and Hove Albion are ready to sell midfielder Yves Bissouma for €35 million.
This is good news for both Arsenal and Manchester United, who could do with a midfield reinforcement. Bissouma has been a revelation at the Amex Stadium and has the potential to step it up on a better side.
The Seagulls play some attractive football but have a ceiling that they may not be able to overcome, at least not anytime soon. At 24, the Malian could be on the verge of a life-changing decision that could catapult him to Premier League stardom.
Manchester United have had an excellent transfer window, bringing in Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane in the early summer before completing the sensational return of Cristiano Ronaldo. Adding a midfielder into the mix, especially a specialist in defensive contributions, would be welcome, with Nemanja Matic nearing the final stage of his career.
Securing Bissouma could be the shot in the arm Solskajer needs to unleash his attack. With the Malian covering the defence, both Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba would be handed the freedom to drive forward at will. Coupled with United’s frontline, this could overwhelm opposition defences.
Bissouma would be a welcome change from the industrious but rather limited Fred and Scott McTominay. The 24-year-old made 2.9 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game last season, a number that is better than what the United pair put up. While McTominay may have scored and assisted more goals, Bissouma could prove to be the key that unlocks United’s midfield.
While a switch to Old Trafford could guarantee him more success, Arsenal, if anything, need him more. Mikel Arteta’s side has lost all three of their games so far and are floundering at the league’s bottom.
The Gunners have some good names in their midst but in Granity Xhaka have a poor senior midfielder incapable of making the right decisions. Sure enough, the Swiss dynamo got himself sent off against Manchester City, condemning his side to an abject defeat.
?#Brighton want around € 35m to sell #YvesBissouma.
?#ManchesterUnited and #Arsenal are keeping a close eye on #Bissouma.#AFC •#MUFC • #BHAFC
?https://t.co/30jzpdj4Zr pic.twitter.com/Bbs9m4fTnn— Ekrem KONUR (@Ekremkonur) August 28, 2021
Bissouma would provide that security that the Arsenal midfield sorely lacks. His intelligence and positioning will shape the Gunners midfield, freeing Emile Rowe Smith and Martin Odegaard to push forward. More so, Albert Sambi Lokonga is a talented player who just need the right senior figure around them.
Bissouma, at 24, is not that older than the Belgian but has shown enough game intelligence and awareness to suggest he would fit right in. A double pivot of Thomas Partey and Bissouma could be the arrangement that Arteta needs to make to have any chance of winning the midfield battle. To call Arsenal shambolic would be mercy at the moment.
Both Arsenal and United have spent big this summer. However, only one of them appears to have gotten stronger, even on paper. Whether either of them have the necessary funds to make one last push in the window remains to be seen.
With just days left in the summer window, time is running out fast for the Premier League duo to make their move for Bissouma. Whether the Malian will indeed be on the move remains to be seen.