According to Calciomercato, Arsenal are among the clubs interested in the services of Jean Michael Seri. The Fulham midfielder has attracted a lot of attention in the transfer market following his side’s relegation last season. Galatasaray and AC Milan are also keen on signing the Ivorian. The report further claims that Seri is valued at around €25 million by Fulham.
Seri’s mixed season at Fulham
After joining Fulham in a €30 million move from OGC Nice last summer, Seri has had quite an eventful debut campaign in the Premier League. He was a prominent figure in the centre of the pitch, making 32 league appearances, scoring one goal and providing three assists.
From an individual perspective, Seri was quite good in instigating his side’s transition and possession play. But, it was a case of lack of collective effort and support from the team that led to Fulham’s relegation at the end.
The Ivorian, did, however, struggle to find proper game-time under Scott Parker during the final phase of the campaign. And it’s unlikely Seri will have any future at the club with Parker set to remain as the Fulham boss next season.
What can the midfielder bring to the table?
One of the biggest assets Seri has in his locker is his excellent passing range. The 27-year-old is capable of rotating possession at a quick rate. He notably averaged a remarkable pass completion rate of 87% last season.
A central midfielder by trade, he isn’t afraid of making driving runs into the final third and thread in useful passes in and around the penalty area.
The Ivorian was, in fact, the most creative player for Fulham last season, delivering 57 key passes in just 32 matches. Aside from that, Seri is known for his versatility as he can also feature as a holding midfielder. And this makes it particularly easy for managers to accomodate him in their midfield units.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
Should Arsenal make a move for Seri?
Unpopular as it may be, Arsenal should actually consider Seri over Dani Ceballos this summer. The Real Madrid star is regarded as one of Unai Emery’s top targets this summer. But, the fact that he struggled at Madrid during his two-year spell at Bernabeu coupled with his lack of experience in the Premier League raises doubts as to whether or not he will be a success at Emirates.
Seri, to that end, has already enjoyed a relatively pleasant season on a personal level. The ex-Nice midfielder is a versatile operator in the middle of the park. And he can provide the technical spark in midfield that could tune in well with Emery’s high-octane style of play at Arsenal. Hence, the Gunners should definitely explore the possibility of signing Seri this summer.
