As per Le Phoceen (h/t The Sun), Arsenal are eyeing a summer swoop for Le Havre starlet Pape Gueye amidst his legal battle with Watford.
The 21-year-old came through the ranks of Le Havre’s youth system and was promoted to club’s senior set up in the summer of 2018. Though he made his debut in 2016/17, he struggled for game time in the following season. However, he has successfully claimed the spot for himself this term.
He has been impressive in Ligue 2 and as a result, he had already signed a deal with Watford in January, as per the report. But the midfielder is unwilling to move to Vicarage Road and could likely stay in France beyond the summer. Thus, the Gunners should make use of this opportunity and attempt to secure his signature before the new season commences.
The Gunners have been inconsistent throughout the campaign and the 3-0 loss to Manchester City last week also proved to be costly in their hopes of qualifying for the European competition next season.
However, with the season coming to its business end, the manager should look to form a strong squad if they have to get into the top four next term. Thus, they should bring fresh faces in the form of youngsters who could help them progress in the future.
One area Arteta should focus on strengthening is the defensive midfield position. Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka are the two defensive midfielders available at the manager’s disposal. While the Uruguayan has done a decent job so far, Xhaka has faced several problems this season.
As a result, their defence has also failed to keep the opponents in check. With a proper defensive midfielder in their ranks, Arsenal would be able to concede less. Thus, a defensive midfielder is a must in the summer.
In that regard, Le Havre’s Gueye would be a suitable option for the club. The Frenchman has been brilliant throughout the campaign for the Ligue 2 outfit. He has featured in 25 games so far and is showing signs of improvement.
The 21-year-old’s inclusion to Arteta’s squad would definitely add depth, whilst also bringing healthy competition within the squad. He is just 21 and could develop himself into a reliable player in the future under Arteta.
With Xhaka’s performance not up to the mark, Arsenal’s midfield hasn’t been stable. And Gueye is capable of doing well in that position. He could also provide them with much-needed depth. Thus, they should attempt to lure the French U19 international to Emirates this summer.