Mikel Arteta appears to be searching for a player with similar attributes to himself (Image: GETTY)
‘s reported interest in midfielder Joshua Kimmich suggests that is looking for a player in his own mould to help the Gunners next season. They failed to make any signings in the January transfer window, choosing not to strengthen despite their obvious need for more quality in the dressing room.
A more productive summer window could be on the horizon, though, with Arteta looking to steer clear of yet another failure in next season’s Premier League title race. They have already been linked with a host of big names and could sign at least one of them without having to pay a transfer fee.
Kimmich is widely expected to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the campaign, having failed to agree terms over a new and improved contract. have already staged talks with his representatives over the possibility of landing him on a free transfer, .
Joshua Kimmich could reportedly join the Gunners on a free transfer in the summer (Image: GETTY)
Their interest in Kimmich indicates that Arteta is looking for a player with the kind of attributes that he showed during his own playing career. He was a versatile midfielder and was able to read the game with an expert eye, something Kimmich has been doing exceptionally well over the years.
Arteta was an experienced player by the time he signed for , where he spent five years before retiring in 2016. Kimmich has also been around for a long time and has plenty of trophy-winning campaigns under his belt, winning eight Bundesliga titles at Bayern Munich.
It seems Kimmich could be a smart addition for the Gunners ahead of next season, when they will be hoping to battle and for domestic glory once again. However, it remains to be seen if he will join or if a late twist will see him extend his stay at the Allianz Arena.
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Speaking in January, the midfielder suggested that he would be open to staying at Bayern Munich for several more years. However, he conceded that his final decision would be influenced by many factors, including the likelihood of success over the next few seasons.
“The likelihood of me staying is much greater than it was in the summer because I can see how we are playing football,” he told Sky Germany. “That also has a lot to do with the coach. All of Germany can see that we are playing football in a different way.
“It looks much better. It’s fun in training and on the pitch. Of course there are many, many good reasons to extend the contract [but] for me, it’s a fundamental decision. It’s about where you can be most successful in the next three to four years.”