Arsenal identify 8-time league winner who is 'hesitant' over new contract as Jorginho replacement

Arsenal are said to be eyeing up a top quality midfielder on a free transfer ahead of the summer transfer window. The Gunners look set to fall short again this season, currently 13 points behind leaders Liverpool, albeit with a game in hand.

Mikel Arteta has managed significant improvements at Arsenal, but he knows there will come a time when he is judged on his ability to deliver titles, something he hasn’t done yet.

Arsenal have spent large amounts of money over the last couple of years, and the club’s chiefs are going to want to see return on their investments. That could make next season crucial for the Gunners, and equally, this season’s recruitment will be vital.

Attacking signings are required, with a striker clearly needed, while the Gunners could also do with another winger, something that has been made clear by the loss of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka to injury over recent weeks.

Despite that, a number of midfielders are also being linked with Arsenal ahead of the summer, including Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, while there seems to be another possible target in Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich, who still hasn’t penned a new deal with the club ahead of his current deal expiring this summer.

German journalist Florian Plettenberg is now reporting that Arsenal are interested in landing Kimmich on a free transfer this summer. He wrote: “For several days, Arsenal FC have been one of the clubs with a concrete interest in Joshua Kimmich and have held talks.

“Gunners would like to sign him on a free transfer as a possible replacement for Jorginho. Kimmich now has received two written offers from abroad. One from the Premier League. That’s the main reason why he is hesitating to sign a new deal with Bayern at least until 2028 and a salary of €20-22m gross/year. Kimmich has informed Bayern about the offers. But from Kimmich’s camp, it is said that discussions with Eberl/Freund are still ongoing. For Kimmich an agreement on a new contract remains possible and Bayern are ready to negotiate again, but now only willing to pay the same amount or less.”

Kimmich is a 97-time Germany international, and after 10 years at Bayern, he has a track record of winning titles, winning eight Bundesliga titles, a Champions League and many other trophies. The 30-year-old is also able to play right-back, which could take the burden off Thomas Partey, who often has to fill in there, while Partey still needs to agree a new contract of his own.

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