Arsenal are reportedly poised to sign Marcelo Brozovic in the summer, with Inter Milan said to be keen on offloading the Croatia international.
According to Tuttosport (h/t Marc Williams of the Daily Star) the Nerazzurri are obliged to sign the midfielder at the end of a one-and-a-half-year loan deal from Dinamo Zagreb, which finishes at the end of the season. However, it’s suggested they want to “sacrifice” the midfielder immediately, with the Gunners touted as potential suitors.
Tuttosport had also reportedly claimed that Inter director Pietro Ausilio will fly to London this week to stage talks over a possible switch, per Liam Corless of the Daily Mirror.
Brozovic is a talented and versatile footballer. Here is a look at some of his best moments in an Inter shirt so far:
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There is a lot to like about the 23-year-old. On the ball, at times he boasts an elegance not too dissimilar to that possessed by compatriots Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic.
Indeed, Brozovic is a fine technician, capable of taking the ball in tight areas and holding off defenders. When given time he’s a major threat too, whether committing opponents with his clever dribbling or firing incisive passes into the path of forward players. To cap it off, he’s a hard worker too, willing to get back and contribute defensively.
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It makes Inter’s supposed willingness to cash in peculiar. Granted, Brozovic does still need to add consistency to his game, but the Nerazzurri have badly lacked a creative spark in midfield this term, something you’d anticipate a player with the Croatian’s guile can provide in the long term.
As Jack Rathborn of uMAXit Football noted earlier in the season, the Italian press have had some pretty heady praise for the midfielder:
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If they do decide to move him on, then Arsenal could well benefit. As aforementioned, Brozovic is a player who can thrive in a technically based setup and alongside players who are similarly proficient with the ball at their feet he could definitely take his game on to another level.
Admittedly, the Gunners are currently well stocked in midfield and have some very gifted ball players in the team. But according to Sami Mokbel of the MailOnline, Arsenal are set to lose three of their options in this position, with Mathieu Flamini, Tomas Rosicky and Mikel Arteta all apparently on course for summer exits.
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“Arsenal are committed to revamping their central midfield options this summer,” claimed Mokbel in the piece, suggesting Flamini, despite playing regularly this term, will not be handed a new contract at the Emirates Stadium. It’s suggested the January capture of Mohamed Elneny is the start of a midfield rebuilding job and that “at least one” big name option will join in the summer.
Flamini was subject to heavy criticism in midweek as he gave away a penalty against Barcelona just 47 seconds after entering the game from the bench.
As Bleacher Report’s Dean Jones noted, it seems as though Arsenal fans have lost faith in the Frenchman:
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While Flamini, Rosicky and Arteta are all popular figures at the Emirates Stadium, should Wenger cast a ruthless eye over his squad he’ll see three players who are past their best and no longer good enough. Some fresher, younger legs in midfield would be a big lift to this team too, given they can often be outmuscled and outrun in this area of the pitch.
A player like Brozovic, who is young, talented and adaptable, may well be an ideal acquisition if Arsenal are looking to reshape their choices in the middle of the pitch. However, given he’s not yet a permanent Inter player, any deal will surely be complicated and subsequently, is still a long way off.
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