Edu may land Arteta’s personal Milner as Arsenal eye transfer for “important” £65m sensation – opinion
Arsenal are enthusiastic about a deal to convey Pepê to The Emirates within the January switch window.
What’s the discuss?
That’s in line with a report by Portuguese publication Report (through Sport Witness), who declare that each Arsenal and Chelsea are ‘attentively following’ the FC Porto flanker’s evolution in Liga Portugal forward of launching a possible transfer for the 25-year-old this winter.
Nevertheless, the report goes on to state that, with the Brazilian having not too long ago put pen to paper on a contract extension on the Estádio do Dragão – a deal which features a €75m (£65m) launch clause – the Premier League sides will probably be conscious that Porto can afford to be powerful in negotiations for the winger.
Milner 2.0
Contemplating simply how spectacular Pepê has been in Portugal up to now this season, coupled with the winger boasting extraordinarily spectacular positional versatility, it isn’t troublesome to see why Mikel Arteta and Edu could be eager on a deal to convey the 25-year-old to north London in January.
Certainly, over his 13 Liga Portugal appearances up to now in 2022/23, the £17m-rated expertise has been in sensational type, scoring two targets, registering 4 assists and creating 4 massive possibilities for his teammates, along with taking a mean of 1.1 pictures, making 1.6 key passes and finishing 1.8 dribbles per sport.
The £35k-per-week flanker has additionally impressed in a defensive capability, making a mean of 1.8 interceptions and 1.3 tackles, in addition to efficiently regaining possession 1.2 instances and profitable 5.6 duels – at successful charge of 52% – per sport.
These returns have seen the participant who Fernando Campos dubbed “important” common an especially spectacular SofaScore match ranking of 7.21, not solely rating him as Sérgio Conceição’s sixth-best performer within the league but in addition because the joint Twenty second-best participant within the top-flight of Portuguese soccer as a complete.
Moreover, with Pepê having additionally featured in no fewer than 5 totally different positions over the course of the season – together with left-wing, left wing-back, attacking midfield, right-wing and right-back – it’s clear to see that the previous Brazil U23 worldwide’s positional versatility is a big plus for a supervisor.
And, contemplating the success Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool have loved with their very own utility man in James Milner – the 36-year-old midfielder who has been deployed in virtually each place on the pitch except for in purpose – it’s clear to see {that a} participant on this mould might be extremely helpful in a title cost.
As such, whereas £65m is undoubtedly a substantial amount of cash to spend within the winter window, ought to Edu go on to land Pepê in January and the winger develops into Arsenal’s personal Milner at The Emirates, the Brazilian may properly show the distinction between the Gunners profitable the league or not come the top of the season.