Arsenal are eyeing a summer move for Sampdoria midfielder in Dennis Praet, it has been claimed.
The Gunners are preparing for life without Aaron Ramsey next season as they plot a move for Sampdoria midfielder Dennis Praet, according to CalcioMercato.
The Belgian international has been identified as an ideal replacement for the departing Welshman as the Gunners look to add to their creative options in the summer.
Dennis Praet: Just who Arsenal need?
Arsenal will be bracing themselves for a busy summer ahead, with Ramsey already agreeing on a free transfer to Juventus while head coach Unai Emery is reportedly keen to offload star playmaker Mesut Ozil in the upcoming transfer window.
Furthermore, Henrikh Mkhitaryan has also been a subject of transfer speculation linking him to a move away from the Emirates, thus accentuating the need for at least one new face in the creative midfield department.
Praet, in that regard, could turn out to be an interesting option for Emery given his ability to create chances as well as bringing others into play with his sublime passing. He has averaged one key pass per game this season whilst attaining an excellent pass completion rate of 85%.
A former teammate of current Arsenal star Lucas Torreira, Praet was predominantly an attacking midfielder during his time with RSC Anderlecht. However, the Belgian has been utilized in a deeper role by Sampdoria, which, in turn, has enhanced his ability to win back possession for his team making him a better-rounded player.
In fact, the 24-year-old has averaged almost two tackles per game – a tally only bettered by Torreira among the Arsenal regulars this season(minimum 1000 minutes played).
Praet can be deployed alongside Torreira in Arsenal’s double-pivot, where the Belgian’s composure on the ball coupled with his dribbling prowess will allow him to act as the ball-carrier while Torreira’s urgency and dynamism could make Arsenal much more vigilant in the middle-third of the pitch.
However, what makes Praet such an appealing target for Arsenal is that he could be a much cheaper alternative to other options that are available in the market, with reports suggesting that the Sampdoria star could be available for just €20 million.
This could bode well for the Gunners, who are still expected to face budget restraints once the transfer window reopens in July, thus making Praet an ideal option for the north London giants as they aim to refresh their midfield unit next season.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored