Paul Merson has told The Daily Star that Arsenal should absolutely look at signing reported Tottenham Hotspur target James Ward-Prowse.
Arsenal were linked with signing the Southampton midfielder back in April but Spurs have emerged as a more credible destination since then.
In May, The Daily Mail reported that Tottenham – and Newcastle United – were interested in signing the England international.
The Gunners have reportedly just signed Fabio Vieira in a £34 million deal, but Merson has told The Daily Star that Mikel Arteta should certainly add Ward-Prowse to the mix.
He said: “Arsenal don’t need to sign a lorryload of teenagers this summer. They need experience. And Ward-Prowse ticks every box. He is deadly from free kicks. Puts it on a sixpence from corners. What am I missing? Is it because he’s English and only plays for Southampton? I don’t get it. I think he’s massively underrated. I don’t understand why Arsenal are not pulling out all the stops to try.”
Could Arsenal sign Ward-Prowse?
In a word, yes.
Despite adding Vieira to their ranks, and already having Martin Odegaard, Ward-Prowse isn’t the same type of midfielder as any of them.
The Southampton star, valued at £75 million, is more in the mould of Youri Tielemans, who Arsenal are ‘confident‘ about signing.
Problem is, Tottenham do represent a serious threat but with Antonio Conte reportedly set to bring Yves Bissouma to Spurs, perhaps Arsenal’s North London rivals are no longer in the equation.
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