Arsenal are currently in competition with Tottenham Hotspur for the ‘really good’ midfielder, but they may need to make a huge bid to seal the deal this month.
Despite Zvimendi’s form, the Gunners are considering signing the midfielder
Martin Zvimendi has adapted incredibly well to life in the Premier League since arriving in the summer, with Declan Rice recently praising his midfield partner: “He’s not the greatest player or the strongest player, but his brain and how he works allows the team to function very well.
“He was unbelievable. He played so many minutes for us and the way he approached the ball, obviously he’s Spain’s No. 6 at the moment and rightly so. So you can see the quality, the composure, the composure, the mindset that he brings.”
Rice remains an important player for Mikel Arteta, and the Englishman’s brace in his last game against AFC Bournemouth could prove valuable in the Premier League title race, with Chelsea’s late equalizer leaving the North Londoners six points clear of Manchester City.
Arteta is blessed with top-level options in midfield, but TEAMtalk has revealed that Arsenal have their sights set on a new midfielder, joining the race to sign AZ Alkmaar star Keith Smit.
A number of Premier League clubs are in the race to sign the central midfielder, including Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool, but one scout said: “He is a very smart footballer and a lot of clubs actually thought they had discovered a player that others might not have noticed, but in recent months it has become clear that everyone has their eyes on him.”
However, if the Gunners want to seal a deal this month, they may have to make a huge bid as it is thought Smit’s current employers could hold out for up to £65m.
‘Absolutely fantastic’ Smit is destined for the Premier League
Scout Jacek Kulig has admired the 19-year-old for quite some time and praised the X for his performances at AZ Alkmaar during the 2024-25 season.
Since then, the young Dutchman, who is represented by the same agent as Julian Timber, has continued to impress at Alkmaar, establishing himself as a key player this season with two goals and five assists in 27 games across all competitions.
The starlet is also a skilled dribbler who carries the ball forward, averaging 2.38 progressive carries per 90 over the past year, placing him in the 94th percentile compared to other midfielders.
The next logical step would be for Smit to move to one of Europe’s top leagues, but signing a new midfielder shouldn’t be a priority for Arsenal given the partnership Rice and Zvimendi have built.
