BARCELONA, SPAIN - JANUARY 25: Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad looks on prior to the Copa Del Rey Quarter Final match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Spotify Camp Nou on January 25, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
3 Moises Caicedo alternatives Arsenal should consider before the deadline
For Arsenal, their objective before the January transfer deadline couldn’t be any clearer: sign a midfielder.
Thomas Partey may not have sustained a serious injury in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester City, but Arsenal’s depth behind the Ghanaian has been further compromised by Mohamed Elneny’s projected absence. With the veteran Egyptian poised to be sidelined for potentially the rest of the season, the onus will fall on the unready Sambi Lokonga should Partey be forced to miss time during the second half of the season.
That’s a scenario Mikel Arteta will want to avoid as he goes in search of the Premier League title.
Their approach for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo is a signal of their intent in the closing stages of the January window, but the Seagulls’ lofty valuation of the 21-year-old, one they seemingly won’t shift from, means a move is unlikely to transpire before the deadline.
3 Moises Caicedo alternatives Arsenal should consider before the deadline
Thus, with Arsenal intent on bolstering their midfield, an alternative must be sounded out. Here are three options the Gunners should consider.
1. Ibrahim Sangare
One thing most of the top sides have in common is a big, physical DM (Rodri, Casemiro, Partey, Fabinho). One player who I think could fit the mould for Chelsea is PSVs Ibrahim Sangare. Just look at these stats!
Zakaria could be that guy. But jury is still out on that one pic.twitter.com/imlCHx2yav— EFL Heritage (@EFLheritage) January 19, 2023
Arsenal caught a first-hand glimpse of Sangare this season as they took on PSV in the Europa League group stage. For me, the holding midfielder was the Dutch side’s standout performer in the Gunners’ 1-0 win at the Emirates, and he impressed again in the reverse fixture – although, Xavi Simons stole the show on that occasion.
The Ivorian is a physical behemoth; a midfielder that combines robustness with elegance in possession. He’s press resistant and excellent at finding his way out of tight spaces, while athleticism allows him to eat up ground at a canter. Overall, he’s not too dissimilar to Partey.
Sangare has to be playing in a top-five European league soon despite committing his long-term future to PSV in the summer. FBRef’s scouting report depicts the 25-year-old’s recent proficiency, as he stands out in almost every relevant statistical category.
Continued on the next slide…
pic.twitter.com/imlCHx2yav
<p>— EFL Heritage (@EFLheritage) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/29/3-moises-caicedo-alternatives-arsenal-consider-deadline/"https://twitter.com/EFLheritage/status/1616119632901050370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>January 19, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Arsenal caught a first-hand glimpse of Sangare this season as they took on PSV in the Europa League group stage. For me, the holding midfielder was the Dutch side’s standout performer in the Gunners’ 1-0 win at the Emirates, and he impressed again in the reverse fixture – although, Xavi Simons stole the show on that occasion.</p>
<p>The Ivorian is a physical behemoth; a midfielder that combines robustness with elegance in possession. He’s press resistant and excellent at finding his way out of tight spaces, while athleticism allows him to eat up ground at a canter. Overall, he’s not too dissimilar to Partey.</p>
<p>Sangare has to be playing in a top-five European league soon despite committing his long-term future to PSV in the summer. <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/29/3-moises-caicedo-alternatives-arsenal-consider-deadline/"https://fbref.com/en/players/bced0375/Ibrahim-Sangare" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FBRef’s scouting report</a> depicts the 25-year-old’s recent proficiency, as he stands out in almost every relevant statistical category.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/29/3-moises-caicedo-alternatives-arsenal-consider-deadline/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 Caicedo alternative </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>2. Martin Zubimendi</h2>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I hope Martín Zubimendi stays with Real Sociedad as long as possible</p>
<p>La Real has built something special. Zubimendi is such a centerpiece part of that at DM</p>
<p>He's an incredible talent who will play for an elite club one day, but La Real, as Imanol Alguacil said, is already great</p>
<p>— The Trivela Effect (@TrivelaEffect) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/29/3-moises-caicedo-alternatives-arsenal-consider-deadline/"https://twitter.com/TrivelaEffect/status/1619300001645056000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>January 28, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Arsenal have been linked with a move for Zubimendi, but Real Sociedad have told the Gunners to pay the Spaniard’s €60m release clause.</p>
<p>They have the money, so what’s the problem?</p>
<p>Well, it’s hard to find one, to be honest. Zubimendi appears to be a player that Arteta would adore. Many regard the 23-year-old as the heir to Sergio Busquets’ throne in the Spanish national team (and potentially at Barcelona) such is the efficiency at which he plays the <em>pivote</em> position.</p>
<p>Zubimendi has operated as La Real’s graceful fulcrum in the middle of the park under Imanol Alguacil; evolving from a technically gifted metronome into a near complete holding midfielder. His style and profile does contrast to Partey, but that doensn’t mean he’s any less suited to performing as a single pivot in Arteta’s 4-3-3.</p>
<p>The Spaniard is destined for stardom, even if his brilliance does often go under the radar, and in the context of the current market, paying his release clause doesn’t seem to be the worst idea.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/29/3-moises-caicedo-alternatives-arsenal-consider-deadline/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 Caicedo alternative </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>3. Ibrahima Bamba</h2>
<div id="attachment_132018" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-132018" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/29/3-moises-caicedo-alternatives-arsenal-consider-deadline/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1065,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1245781493.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1065" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1245781493.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1245781493-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Ibrahima Bamba is impressing in the Portuguese top flight. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)</p>
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<p>20-year-old Bamba is an unknown commodity, but his name has appeared in transfer rumour mills linking him to Arsenal after his agent was spotted in London.</p>
<p>Unlike Sangare and Zubimendi, who’d be ready to fill in for Partey right away, Bamba is much more of a project signing. The Italian, who currently plies his trade in Portugal for Vitoria Guimaraes, is enjoying quite the season and he’s excelled playing at the base of a 4-3-3.</p>
<p>Bamba has proven during the formative stages of his senior career that he’s an excellent defender, and he’s occasionally been used as a <em>libero</em> where he can put his impressive frame to good use. He’s incredibly tenacious, and he reads the game superbly when deployed in midfield. Arteta will undoubtedly appreciate his versatility, as well as Bamba’s athleticism and his comfort in possession.</p>
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<p>The young midfielder’s yet to evolve into a progressive machine with the ball, but there’s plenty of time to develop in that regard. Overall, Bamba looks to be a mightily exciting talent, but one that probably won’t have much of an impact right away if he was to join before the deadline.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
