Arsenal are taking the transfer market by storm this summer as they seek to strengthen on all departments before the start of the new Premier League season.
As reported by The Mirror, the Gunners are holding negotiations with the La Liga defending champions Barcelona for their midfielder Andre Gomes. The Spanish side are willing to let Gomes move on to new pastures provided Arsenal cough-up £26.8m, that Barcelona are demanding at the moment.
Due to a lack of game time at Camp Nou, the Portuguese international is looking to depart from Spain in order to accumulate more game time under his belt. At 24, Gomes has a long way to go before he reaches his prime, and a move away from Spain will only boost his chances. He is someone that a lot of clubs are looking to sign, but Arsenal looks the strongest candidates to obtain his signature this summer.
The central midfielder is keen to link up with new Arsenal coach Unai Emery as negotiations over a year-long loan are being put in place that includes an option to make the switch to London a permanent one. Lack of game time in a Barcelona shirt is not going to do any good to the player who has the quality to start games regularly for even the best of clubs in Europe.
A switch to the Emirates Stadium will suit Gomes well as he will be given the freedom to boss the midfield and will do well to link up play with the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil. The Gunners are known to play fluid football quite similar to that being played at the Camp Nou. This will be advantageous to Gomes as he is already familiar with the system since moving to Barcelona in 2016.
Gomes can control the midfield areas well with his ability to calmly find a defence-splitting pass. He can be quite creative for Arsenal in finding a goal and is not timid at shooting from distance as well. However, the Barca outcast will have to improve on the physical aspect of his game if he is to cope with the style of play that England has in store for him.
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Finding a place within the starting IX at Arsenal isbe a challenge Gomes is capable of overcoming and he must make a decision sooner rather than later if he plans to be part of the Portugal squad come The Euros in 2020.
