According to the Express, Arsenal manager Unai Emery keen to sign £9million-rated Moroccan midfielder Youssef Ait Bennasser from Monaco in the January transfer window.
The Express also understands that Star Gunners are likely to face stiff competition from Serie A clubs AC Milan and Genoa for the 22-year-old.
Emery knows about the club’s financial constraints and the Spaniard wants to sign Bennasser on loan with an option to buy in the summer. (h/t Express)
A product of AS Nancy’s youth system, Youssef Ait Bennasser made his professional debut in Ligue 2 back in 2015 and was signed by Monaco in 2016. He spent time on loan at Nancy and Caen in the previous two seasons but the 22-year-old has established himself as a regular name on Thierry Henry’s team sheet at Monaco this term.
Bennasser, who was a part of Morocco’s squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, has been in fine form in Ligue 1 this season, registering a couple of assists from 12 appearances.
Essentially a defensive midfielder by trade, the 22-year-old is known for his energy, drive, defensive work rate and good technique. Blessed with quick feet, Bennasser has above-average dribbling skills and is adept at retaining the ball at his feet.
Considered as a tank full of energy in the middle of the park, Bennasser has shown all the attributes of developing into a solid defensive midfielder. Known for his tenacity, the Moroccan is really sharp and agile, which allows him to cut the passing lanes and close down the opposition by pressing higher up the pitch.
However, his main strength lies in his wonderful range of passing, both short and long, moving the ball around in the midfield to control the tempo and switching the play with long passes to change the point of the attack.
He does struggle with his positioning and discipline at times but those are the attributes one would expect him to have in his repertoire as he continues to mature.
Bennasser has averaged 53.8 passes per game with an accuracy percentage of 85.3, including 3.6 successful long balls per game. Furthermore, he averages 2.3 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game this season, figures which show that his strengths as a defensive midfielder outweigh his weaknesses.
To put things into perspective, he would be a good signing for Arsenal in January, not only because the Gunners need more depth in their squad but also because of the fact that a player like Bennasser would be a great fit for Unai Emery’s system.
Arsenal need to add a fresh face to cover for the departure of Aaron Ramsey. Although someone like Bennasser is not as dynamic as the Welshman, he would provide the likes of Matteo Guendouzi, Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny with healthy competition for places.
While Elneny has been linked with a move away from Arsenal in January, Xhaka hasn’t particularly flourished under Emery’s pressing philosophy.
Despite doing reasonably well in their first season under Emery, Arsenal will find it difficult to secure a top-four finish amidst stiff competition from Chelsea and a resurgent Manchester United.
And that calls for more cover in all areas of the pitch, something which the Gunners desperately need to challenge their Premier League rivals in the upcoming season. Hence, Arsenal should get this deal done in January.