Emery reportedly wanting Praet and Pellegrini shows he has already identified Arsenal weakness

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Arsenal have been liked with Sampdoria’s Dennis Praet and AS Roma’s Lorenzo Pellegrini.

According to a report by Gianluca Di Marzio, new Arsenal boss Unai Emery has identified AS Roma’s Lorenzo Pellegrini and Sampdoria’s Dennis Praet as players he wants to bring to the Emirates this summer.

The Italian report claims that the Spaniard’s preference is to sign 21-year-old Pellegrini, but it can’t be ruled out that Arsenal will attempt to sign both this summer as they look to bolster their midfield ranks.

Arsene Wenger has worked wonders for Arsenal during his long and proud career in north London, turning the club into one of the greatest in the world and a regular challenger for the Premier League title.

But over the past decade, due to stubbornness or an inability to spot a glaring weakness, the Gunners have lacked steel and mobility in the central midfield area and it has cost them dearly on occasions.

Having once had the likes of Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit and Gilberto Silva dominating in the middle of the park, it begs the question why Wenger never looked to buy a similar type after their invincible campaign.

But new Arsenal manager Emery, however, has seemingly identified that brittleness and fragility and it appears the first piece of business he wants to do this summer is rectify that with a midfield acquisition.

Pellegrini may only be 21, but the Roma ace has been in the thick of it this past season, making 28 Serie A appearances and showing plenty of potential as an aggressive, dynamic box-to-box midfielder.

Mobility is absolutely key for Arsenal as Granit Xhaka, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey all lack that thrust out of possession and the ability to regularly break up play, push forward and join attacks.

According to Football Italia, Pellegrini has a 25 million euros [£22 million] release clause which puts him well within Arsenal’s budget, and Gianluca di Marzio claim fellow target Praet is also available at £22 million.

The Belgium international is another box-to-box specialist, averaging 2.7 tackles per game (Whoscored) while also showing an ability to get forward as a he regularly breaks between the lines.

Arsenal need to buy young players who can become world class, and Emery’s reported targets are exactly what the club needs if they are to once again establish themselves as a Champions League regular.