Monday Morning News- Arsenal are planning an ‘audacious’ move for versatile £65M midfield general who has played with some of the best players in the world- Player’s agent has been contacted and given green light to Arsenal- ‘Huge’ bids to be tabled in the next few days

Arsenal ‘really admire’ £65m midfielder and will work on transfer for January

Ahead of the January transfer window, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side are now being linked with an audacious move for a midfielder.

It’s widely known that Arsenal are operating with fairly strict Financial Fair Play parameters in the coming window, with not much room to move.

However, journalist Ben Jacobs has now shared that Arsenal do still have a lofty target for the window if achievable.

Jacobs said that Arsenal are huge admirers of Fulham’s Joao Palhinha, a player Mikel Arteta would love to sign in January.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: “He’s a player Arsenal really admire and we know about the Bayern Munich interest as well, but price tag is a problem because Arsenal spent big last summer.

“So a lot is just going to depend on whether or not Arsenal can find the finances within financial fair play during the mid-season or the summer windows to have another big push.

“Of course, going far in the Champions League this season, winning the Premier League getting back into the Champions League and getting prize money will all help them ahead of the summer.

“I think that January is a lot harder, because the price is going to be £65 million plus.

“And as soon as the price becomes that high, despite Arsenal’s admiration and their interest being very genuine, they simply won’t be able to move.

“So this is one to watch in the sense that the Arsenal interest is there.”

Mikel Arteta would love to add Fulham’s Joao Palhinha to Arsenal squad in January

Of course, Arsenal’s interest is certainly a nod to a clear trend we’ve seen at the club this season.

Palhinha, who is a top class defensive midfielder, isn’t known for his progressive passing or ball-carrying, rather he’s a classic defender.

There’s arguably no one better than Palhinha in the Premier League at what he does.

And therefore signing the Portugal international would fit right in line with Arteta’s plan to make Arsenal more robust and harder to beat this season.

The move would likely see Declan Rice make a permanent switch to the number eight spot and would give Arsenal some exciting options.

And whilst this report does state that it will be difficult for Arteta to bring Palhinha to Arsenal in January, there’s clearly strong interest.

A price tag of £65m is mentioned, and that therefore may depend on Arsenal making one emotional sale in the coming window.