With Arsenal seemingly on the hunt for a tough, combative midfielder, there’s one obvious answer that hasn’t really been in the conversation (until this stage). Because of his long-term injury problems, Ilkay Gundogan hasn’t been linked to too many clubs in recent times. But now that he’s back in action, it strikes me that he’d probably be a good fit for The Gunners.
Arsenal keep getting linked to players like Morgan Schneiderlin, William Carvalho and Sami Khedira, but Ilkay Gundogan is as good as any of those options. What’s more, the German talent is probably cheaper than at least two of those three options. According to The Metro, Gundogan could be available for as little as £16m in the near future. That’s the kind of bargain price-tag that may well pique Arsene Wenger’s interest.
The aforementioned source also makes a series of other claims. They suggest that the 24-year-old midfielder has rejected Borussia Dortmund’s offers of a contract extension, whilst also noting that he’s keen on a move to the Premier League.
It certainly wouldn’t surprise me if he was growing tired of his current role at Dortmund. After all, the Bundesliga side have been in terrible form this season. Moving to Arsenal could provide him with a better opportunity of winning silverware (though this is pretty debatable).
If Gundogan really isn’t going to agree new terms with his current club, then The Gunners could be in a position of power here. Dortmund won’t want to lose him on a free transfer later on and may well sell for a cut-price fee instead. With this in mind, he’s certainly worth pursuing.
After all, he’s one of the few players in world football who can combine tough tackling and defensive awareness with genuine technical ability and plenty of attacking nous. He’s something of an all-rounder. As a holding player, he could be a perfect fit for the Premier League. If he’s available for just £16m, then Arsenal would be foolish not to snap him up.
What’s your take? Do Arsenal need to sign a defensive midfielder? Would Ilkay Gundogan be a good option?
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