Arsenal are reportedly keeping tabs on Everton midfielder Amadou Onana ahead of the January transfer window.
According to The Daily Mail, Arsenal are considering a swoop for Everton star Amadou Onana, with manager Mikel Arteta determined to bring in a new midfielder in January.
The Gunners have enjoyed another fantastic start to the season and currently sit at the top of the Premier League table ahead of Christmas, but Arteta is still keen to bolster his squad as he seeks outside help to see out his side’s title charge.
Arsenal signed Declan Rice from West Ham United in the summer for a club-record fee of £105 million, and he has already made a big difference to their title chances.
Having said that, they are in need of another midfielder. One of the biggest reasons Arsenal need a new midfielder in January is because of Thomas Partey’s injury issues.
When fit, the Ghana international is among the best midfielders in the division. Partey and Declan Rice in the engine make Arsenal incredibly formidable and press-resistant.
However, the 30-year-old has barely been available this season, and Arsenal just can’t rely on him to be fit for the remainder of the campaign once he returns. Not to mention, he is expected to travel with Ghana for the African Cup of Nations.
While Jorginho has done a fine job filling in, the Italian playmaker no longer has the legs required in high-tempo games and is currently sidelined as well, leaving Rice with much of the workload to do.
Aston Villa stalwart Douglas Luiz is considered to be the North Londoner’s main target. However, Villa are in a strong negotiating position as Luiz’s current deal keeps him tied to the club until 2026.
Unai Emery is extremely unlikely to green-light the Brazilian maestro’s exit for anything less than £100 million. As a result, the Gunners are scouring the market for viable alternatives to Luiz, and it seems that they have identified Onana as a target.
The Belgian midfielder is capable of playing in a defensive, box-to-box, or attacking role, and he has impressed during his time with the Toffees, having established himself as one of Sean Dyche’s side’s most important players.
Standing tall at 6ft 4in, Onana is branded as powerful, fast, and technically skilled, presenting immense potential for an elite club. He would be the perfect replacement for Partey, and the Belgian alongside Rice in the middle of the park would make their midfield a truly robust one.
Onana has four years left on his contract with the Toffees, so he certainly won’t come cheap. Arsenal would likely have to sell players before making an offer of that size for the Belgian, and Partey could be the first name on the chopping block.