Can Arsenal pull off another Eberechi Eze-style hijacking this summer? Quite possible.
Back in the winter, it was revealed that the Gunners were interested in Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, and although a move did not take place at the time, they remain interested in the Italian.
Arsenal have reportedly been in talks over a move for “several weeks”, but have yet to officially declare an interest in Thun.
There are also Spurs at the same table. Tonali is their number one target and they have agreed personal terms with the player. If Andrea Berta and others don’t make it through the race, a huge amount of money could be at stake.
If he does not move to the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal have a number of alternatives in mind.
Arsenal aim to sign key midfield players this summer
Worth £85 million, Tonali’s move would be a big investment this summer, but the way the market is, the proven Premier League midfielder won’t come cheap.
Three years ago, Declan Rice moved to north London for a whopping £105 million. Moises Caicedo then moved on for £115 million. this year. Elliott Anderson looks set to join Manchester City for a fee of over £120m.
So if you want a midfielder with experience in English football, that would be the benchmark. This explains why Tonali is rated so highly, and why Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is similarly rated in terms of price.
The same can be said for Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, who is currently on the radar of Arsenal. Fabrizio Romano, who is valued at £80 million amid talk of ongoing contract negotiations, has revealed an update on the player’s future via his YouTube channel.
Romano said: “He is still on Arsenal’s shortlist. He is one of the players they rate highly. We are also in talks with the player’s agent and Bournemouth to understand whether there is a possibility of a move.”
“Bournemouth have offered the player a new contract. Bournemouth are keen for the player to remain with a release clause, but Arsenal are considering a move for the player.”
Why Scott is a better signing than Tonali
Arsenal will sign a player described by Tonali’s agent Beppe Riso as “one of the best midfielders in the world”.
For Newcastle, he has proven himself to be an elite talent, a world-class number six who can not only dictate play but also drive play forward.
But he doesn’t offer the round package that Scott does. That means the Guernsey-born midfielder is a more complete player and a better fit for what Arsenal are looking for this summer.
He has long been highly regarded since his breakthrough at Bristol City. He progressed well at the Cherries, but it wasn’t until 2025/26 that he really burst onto the scene with a string of incredibly impressive performances.
Arsenal saw the damage Scott can do in the title game at the Emirates when he ran onto the ball and fired a devastating finish past David Raya to score the fateful goal.
Scott, just 22, only provided one assist and scored four goals last season, but his impact went far beyond what he showed in the final third. In fact, he outperformed Tonali last season in many metrics associated with being a top-level midfielder.
Scott vs Tonali: 25/26 Premier League | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (every 90 minutes) | Scott | Tonali |
the goal | 0.1 | 0 |
shot | 1.0 | 0.7 |
assist | 0.1 | 0.1 |
An opportunity has arisen | 0.9 | 1.2 |
Pass accuracy | 84% | 84% |
The tackle I made | 1.9 | 1.3 |
Take-up completed | 1.0 | 0.7 |
foul win | 1.9 | 1.5 |
won a duel | 5.9 | 3.8 |
Number of balls collected | 6.2 | 5.3 |
Contribution in defense | 12.18 | 9.10 |
progressive carry | 1.54 | 1.10 |
Shortly before being selected for England’s World Cup squad, Scott was not shortlisted, but it was no wonder why he was included in the conversation.
If Tonali is one of the best midfielders in the league, then Scott is definitely up there too. For Bournemouth, he was everywhere. He is a better and more effective ball carrier and dribbler than the Italian, while being able to handle more defensive tasks.
That’s not just because Andoni Iraola’s side were probably better defensive, but because the Scot generally likes to duel. He also has significantly higher press resistance and draws more fouls.
Able to play as a deeper midfielder or more forward as a number eight, the Bournemouth man would add a lot of element to Arsenal’s midfield.
Like Martin Zvimendi, he is sharp in possession. Like Rice, he collects the ball very well and, like Miles Lewis-Skelly, carries it forward with plenty of purpose.
£80m sounds like a lot, but the 22-year-old has the potential to become a regular for England and Arsenal.
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