Arsenal 'sizing up' £29m Aston Villa and Newcastle transfer target

Arsenal are said to be among several Premier League clubs currently showing ‘strong interest’ in the RB Leipzig midfielder Oscar Gloukh. Mikel Arteta’s side have been linked with the 20-year-old following the Gunners’ 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth.

While William Saliba’s 30th-minute red card was a key contributor to Arsenal leaving the south coast without any points, it is worth noting that the Gunners had offered little threats going forward prior to the French defender’s sending off.

With Martin Odegaard still out of action after suffering an ankle injury while on international duty in September, Mikel Merino was tasked with filling the club captain’s shoes on Saturday. However, the Spaniard misplaced 11 of his 35 attempted passes and lost six out of ten ground duels in a performance that TeamTalk have described as ‘laboured’.

According to CaughtOffSide, Arsenal are now ‘sizing up’ Gloukh in a bid to provide competition to the attacking midfield spot, as well as relieve the pressure on both Odegaard and Merino. However, the north London club could well face familiar competition for the 20-year-old’s signature with the report indicating that both Aston Villa and Newcastle are also said to be showing heavy interest in the playmaker.

The Israeli international has provided seven goal contributions in seven matches for the Austrian Bundesliga club this campaign and, not only would he provide excellent cover for the Gunners’ club captain, but his Emirates arrival would allow Merino to play in his preferred deeper midfield role.

He has already made over 100 senior appearances at club level and has been a regular starter in Austria following his £5m switch from Maccabi Tel Aviv in January 2023. At the time of his move to Salzburg, it was reported that Barcelona tried to sign Gloukh while Fabrizio Romano also suggested Benfica, Udinese and Borussia Dortmund were all showing interest.

At present, Salzburg aren’t said to be pushing him out but they would entertain a January sale for the right price, with reports indicating that figure to be around £29m. Gloukh is also said to be ‘open’ to moving to the Premier League and it now remains to be seen which club he opts for as the transfer window edges closer.