Arsenal confident of beating Tottenham, Liverpool to £30m midfielder
Arsenal are reportedly confident of beating a number of clubs, including rivals Tottenham, to the signing of Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma this summer.
Mikel Arteta’s side appear to be leading Spurs, as well as the likes of Liverpool, Everton and West Ham in the race to land the all-action star, who will cost around £30million. The Mali international still has two years remaining on his Seagulls contract, but looks certain to move on.
Everton, West Ham and Tottenham have all made enquiries about the possibility of a move for the 24-year-old. However, the Daily Star claims that the Gunners are the frontrunners for signature.
Arteta is known to be a huge admirer of the box-box-box midfielder. The Spaniard sees Bissouma as the perfect partner for Thomas Partey in Arsenal’s engine room.
However, other suitors still have hope – given Arteta’s current job security in the Gunners hotseat.
Brighton are keen to keep Bissouma, who has had a superb season. But they could double the £15m they paid for him back in 2018.
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Liverpool were the first club to show interest this season after it emerged that Gini Wijnaldum was looking to move on. Indeed, Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, who coached the player at Lille, has endorsed his former star’s credentials.
However, the report goes on to add that Arsenal are likely to seal a deal, if Arteta stays.
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Arteta on the brink
That is a big ‘if’ at this stage, with the Gunners currently 11th in the Premier League table. However, they still have hope of reaching the Champions League via the Europa League this season.
The Emirates outfit are 2-1 down to Villarreal in the semi-finals after the first leg and host the Spanish side this Thursday.
However, former England winger Trevor Sinclair criticised Arteta for his first-leg tactics against former Gunners boss Unai Emery. The pundit also believes that the former Arsenal midfielder could soon be facing the sack.
“I think Arteta got it wrong, and I think he got away with it,” Sinclair told talkSPORT.
“They were poor decisions made by Arteta and I feel he’s been found out by a much more experienced, I’m not saying better, but a much more experienced manager who has got one over him.
“If Arteta doesn’t learn, he’s going to get the sack, it’s as simple as that.”
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