According to Calciomercato, as translated by Wales Online, Arsenal are in the market to sign Aaron Ramsey. The Welsh midfielder himself favours a return to Emirates and is willing to take a pay cut. Juventus, however, are keen on Folarin Balogun and want Arsenal to include him as a sweetener in the deal to sign Ramsey.
Aaron Ramsey: A Wise Addition To The Team?
Arsenal are on the lookout for playmakers following the January exit of Mesut Ozil and with Martin Odegaard’s returning to Real Madrid. It has left Mikel Arteta devoid of options in the number ten role and that is where Aaron Ramsey comes into the fray.
If the Welshman is indeed willing to take a pay cut, he might not be a bad investment for the Gunners. The midfielder already has a lot of experience in English football and with almost 400 appearances for Arsenal, he shouldn’t find difficulties settling in.
Ramsey can be an ideal cog in the number ten role. His ability to drive forward with the ball, combined with his technical prowess and link-up play should help create a healthy harmony between him and the other attackers like Bukayo Saka, Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The 30-year-old is quite versatile as well, as he can operate in central midfield and out wide, if necessary. He also has a knack for scoring goals, though the only downside about Ramsey’s arrival is his poor injury record. So provided he can remain fit, the Welshman could indeed be a smart coup for the Gunners.
Should Arsenal Offload Folarin Balogun?
Juventus’ desire to sign Folarin Balogun is hardly surprising, as the youngster is considered as one of the finest talents to come out of the Arsenal academy in recent years.
Although he is yet to make his professional mark, the forward does indeed have a lot of potential. The player has also signed a new contract with Arsenal, making him a favourite to earn a prominent role in the senior side, especially if the club cashes in on Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah.
Cashing in on Balogun, in that regard, might not be a smart move, especially given how Aubameyang has struggled under Arteta. It also appears unlikely that Arsenal will manage to sign a new forward unless they get rid of one of their star players, effectively making Balogun one of the main alternatives.
The Gunners, therefore, should prioritise a direct cash move rather than using one of their finest young talents as a makeweight for the deal to sign Ramsey. It will be interesting to see if they can offer any of their fringe players with Hector Bellerin, Granit Xhaka and Eddie Nketiah among the potential candidates.
