We were either going to sign a new defensive midfielder who could also player further forward, or an “8” who could also play deeper. Who we recruited depended on one person: Thomas Teye Partey.
The future of Partey has been up for debate for two summers now. Driven by his high wage, injury prone body and Declan Rice’s recruitment, there was always a feeling that if big offer came in from a Saudi Arabia, we would accept it.
Partey’s departure would leave us in the market for a new defensive midfielder to provide both cover, competition and an alternative for Declan Rice.
It would be likely that we would go for someone who could dictate play from deep in the way Jorginho does. Martin Zubimendi and Joshua Kimmich are the first two that come to mind.
The signing would give us the option of playing Declan Rice as the sole defensive midfielder, with Kai Havertz in a more attacking midfield position. Or play Rice further forward, with the new recruit in behind him dictating play.
A third scenario would be the new recruit also playing either as the sole defensive midfielder, or in a partnership with Jorginho were Rice to pick up an injury.
This plan only works if Partey were to leave. But it is increasingly looking like that offer from Saudi Arabia will not come in, and the Ghanaian believes he still has plenty to give to a European based side. This leads to the likely scenario that he will remain with us for 2024/25 and see out his contract.
As a result, we then need to recruit a more advanced midfielder who is a natural in the 8, bridging the gap between the defensive mindset of Rice and the attacking instincts of Havertz.
There is no doubt that we missed Granit Xhaka in that position last season – a left footed aggressive midfielder who has the eye for a pass and can contribute in defence and attack.
When Xhaka was having his huge wobble a 3 years ago, Fabian Ruiz was top of my list to replace him. The Spaniard instead joined PSG from Napoli in 2022.
Ruiz’s understudy for Spain is Mikel Merino. He shares a lot of the same attributes as Ruiz, but is not quite the same level – hence why he is Spain’s second choice in that position. But being 2nd choice does not mean he is not good enough!
If Partey stays, we do not need to go big for a midfielder. We have Rice, Partey and Jorginho as the defensive midfield options. We then need to recruit someone who can either cover Rice if injured, or be an option between Rice and Havertz if we decide to set up a little more defensively, but without going all out defence in the midfield.
It is quite clear that Mikel Arteta and his team fancy a bit of Merino.
Talk is that the Merino deal could be done for less than £25million (his contract expires in 12 months). That is an incredible price for someone with his attributes, build and experience. And as we move into a title winning squad, he is the exact sort of player that we need to be recruiting as a squad player.
Primarily an “8”, Merino can also play deeper if required. He has a great engine, fantastic technique and will be able to influence games in the final third in the same way Xhaka did.
His recruitment will mean we are not overspending on Declan Rice’s cover, and basically gives us 8 players for 3 positions: Rice, Partey, Jorginho, Merino, Havertz, Odegaard, Jorginho. Plenty of squad depth and options depending on how Arteta wishes to set up.
Fast forward 12 months, Partey and Jorginho will both likely be leaving. At that point we then go big on a single defensive midfielder to replace the pair. I am then talking about a Zubimendi or Kimmich. that would then give us the 4 men – Zubimendi (for example), Rice, Merino and Havertz. With 2 out of the 3 starting depending on fitness, opponent, and how we want to set up.
Last summer, Manchester City spent £25million on Mateo Kovacic. The Croat is a versatile, experienced midfielder capable of covering multiple positions. With 1,548 minutes played in the Premier League, Rodri and Bernardo Silva were the only two midfielders to play more minutes for the club.
That means Kovacic played more than Kevin de Bruyne (who was out injured), more than Jack Grealish, and more than Matheus Nunes – whom City spent £53m more than in the same summer.
I am sure City fans would agree that Kovacic was a much better signing than Nunes, despite costing half.
Not every player needs to cost the world. Not every players needs to be a superstar. And not every player needs to be the best in the world.
A final thought on this.
You improve your team by buying better than what you have. In the past some have made a case that Emile Smith Rowe could play that more advanced midfielder role, but the departing Hale End lad has yet to show he can to either a consistent or high enough level.
In Merino we are clearly upgrading on Smith Rowe, and by continually improving is how you maintain the pressure, and potentially overtake, City.
Keenos
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