Dominik Szoboszlai is a January target for Arsenal and, as former Premier League hero Emile Heskey tells HITC, Mikel Arteta is ‘in desperate need’ of a creative talent like the Red Bull Salzburg ace.
The Austrian Bundesliga champions will not stand in Szoboszlai’s way during the winter transfer window.
Sporting director Christoph Freund has already confirmed, via Sky, that there is a ‘high probability’ that the Budapest-born gem will have a new club by February 1.
The more pressing matter, then, is where Szoboszlai will end up.
European superclubs, from Bayern Munich to Real Madrid, Dortmund to Inter Milan, are lining up to sign a midfielder who’s stoppage-time stunner in the Euro 2021 play-offs against Iceland earned Hungary a place at next summer’s international bonanza.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have been linked since early 2019.
The Mirror claims that the Gunners are hoping to agree a deal with Salzburg which would see them pay Szoboszlai’s £23 million release clause in a series of instalments.
A set-piece specialist with a penchant for long-range wondergoals, the 2020 Austrian Bundesliga Player of the Year has eight goals and nine assists in 16 matches this term.
And, as Heskey points out, an Arsenal side who have scored just one goal from open play since early October are crying out for a player capable of producing something out of nothing – especially with Mesut Ozil twiddling his thumbs somewhere in north London.
“Arsenal are in desperate need. Their talisman is not even making the bench, not even making the squad. Having lost their last game against Wolves, they need that person who can unlock games and can start winning games for Arsenal,” Heskey says after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, Arsenal’s third successive home loss.
“(Szoboszlai) would be a really, really key component.”
The Athletic have suggested that Arsenal do have concerns over Szoboszlai’s defensive capabilities – a worrying sign, given that Arteta has bombed out Ozil seemingly for a lack of work-rate without the ball.
Heskey, however, believes that a 20-year-old can learn on the job.
“(A lack of defending) is something he can work on. A lot of the time, defending is your reaction, when you give the ball away or when there’s a turnover, what’s your reaction then? There’s got to be a positive reaction to win it back.
“(At 20) there’s plenty of time!”
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