The role of Declan Rice at Arsenal has now impacted upon Mikel Arteta’s plans for the summer transfer window.
Arsenal will look to add to their midfield options this summer.
Mikel Arteta will need to make additions in the middle of the park ahead of next season. Mohamed Elneny has left the club, Jorginho can no longer start matches week in, week out, and Arsenal now need to move on from Thomas Partey.
This all means that there is set to be a dearth of support around Declan Rice. What’s more, the former West Ham United man’s role at the Emirates Stadium has changed, impacting the profile of player the Gunners will look to now bring in.
Rice showed this season that he can make an impact at both ends of the pitch. He arrived in North London with a reputation as one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League. Arteta’s original plan will have been to deploy the England star at the base of the midfield trio, with Kai Havertz in the left-eight role alongside Martin Odegaard ahead of him.
How Declan Rice development has changed Arsenal transfer plans
However, as Havertz went on to establish himself as a striker, Rice proved himself to be an incredibly effective option in the left-eight position. The 25-year-old finished the season with seven goals and ten assists, across all competitions. The plan is now to keep him in that position.
This means that Arsenal need to sign a midfielder who can work with Rice.
According to The Athletic, Arsenal’s “recruitment priorities” have been shifted by Rice’s development.
The report states: “At present, it seems as if Arsenal may be leaning towards keeping Rice in the No. 8 role,” before naming Martin Zubimendi and Joao Neves as potential targets the club may pursue.
Arsenal considering Martin Zubimendi and Joao Neves to support Declan Rice
Both Neves and Zubimendi are most comfortable in a deeper-lying midfield role, protecting the back four, which would give Rice the freedom to retain his more advanced position.
Zubimendi has a £52 million release clause, and has impressed in La Liga for Real Sociedad in recent seasons. He would be an exciting addition to the Arsenal squad, however it is not yet clear if he would be willing to leave the Spanish outfit this summer.
Benfica starlet Neves is just 19-years-old, and obviously far less experienced at the highest level. It would represent a real risk to bring him to Arsenal and expect him to hit the ground running in the Premier League. However, he has the potential to be a real star, and Arteta has shown a willingness to invest this faith and transfer funds in youth in the past.