Arsenal Target The Next Michael Essien As Potential Guimaraes Alternative Emerges
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Arsenal are still keeping tabs on FC Nordsjaelland midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi, according to reports.
The Daily Mail say that the Gunners are “maintaining interest” in the Ghanaian international, having initially claimed they were scouting the player back in November.
Yirenkyi has been likened to former Chelsea star Michael Essien, who is now the assistant manager at Nordsjaelland.
The 20-year-old played 34 games for his club last season, scoring 2 goals and contributing 6 assists. He also started 3 of Ghana’s 4 matches at the World Cup, including the 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the round of 32 on Saturday.
Guimaraes is the top target for Arsenal
Manager Mikel Arteta has been pushing for the Premier League champions to sign Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes, but after an opening offer worth £55m was rejected, it remains to be seen if they will make another bid.
It is believed that £65m could be a figure that the Magpies may accept, but there are concerns that after selling Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, Eddie Howe’s team will shut up shop and refuse to sell their talisman. With that being the case, other midfielders are being looked at.
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Yirenkyi is one of several alternatives under consideration
Sporting director Andrea Berta made an enquiry for Bournemouth’s Alex Scott last week, but he was told in no uncertain terms that the 22-year-old is not for sale.
Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi are both thought to have their admirers among the club’s recruitment team too, but the cost of signing either player is likely to be prohibitive.
It means a younger, up-and-coming midfielder may be pursued instead. In addition to Yirenkyi, Arsenal have been linked with Boca Juniors’ Tomas Aranda and Corinthians’ Breno Bidon in recent days.
