The Premier League’s elite clubs have come to understand that the best way to win the biggest trophies is to ensure that a squad has quality beyond the starting eleven. This means despite having excellent players in every position, ensuring that the level of talent extends to the bench can ensure consistency and insurance throughout a campaign.
Arsenal have worked to sign strength in depth and have seen Sambi Lokonga fill the hole left by Granit Xhaka’s injury. The Belgian has become a fan favourite and will push the Swiss midfielder for a starting spot even when he returns from the medical room in January.
However, this can mean that players find themselves on the sidelines and without regular playing time often leading to them seeking a move away.
This has been the case for Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek. The Dutch international signed for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to provide depth in the midfield in multiple roles.
Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes’ presence however has seen Van de Beek hardly get a look in the first team leading to unrest from the former Ajax man.
“It’s not easy if you are playing, also not for the confidence and everything,” said Van de Beek on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel.
“I train really hard every day. Just wait for your chance, that’s the only thing I can do. If the moment is there, I have to be ready.”
Considering his frustrations, were an offer to sign the midfielder come forward providing the opportunity to earn more minutes, especially ahead of the 2022 World Cup, it would be very tempting for Van de Beek.
This is where Arsenal come in. Despite not having a well-trodden history of signing players from their early 2000s title rivals, the club have taken some players from United in recent seasons.
(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Both Danny Welbeck and Henrikh Mkhitaryan were surplus to requirements at Old Trafford and the deals the Gunners offered were accepted by United.
Were Arsenal to offer an acceptable deal to the club, it is possible that Man Utd could be open to selling the player again.
Van de Beek can cover in three midfield roles. All the six, eight and ten positions would be strengthened by the Dutch international’s arrival and Arsenal’s roster would enable the 24-year-old a much better shot at game time whilst remaining at an elite level in the game.
The added bonus of staying in the Premier League to show United what they were missing could be an additional motivation.
However, United would be expected to demand a significant fee having paid £35 million in 2020. Yet with midfield high on Arsenal’s list of priorities, technical director Edu may be willing to come to an agreement with the Red Devils if they were willing to talk.
According to the Daily Mail, van de Beek is getting help from his Man United teammates in a bid to end his Old Trafford nightmare after not securing a move to Everton in the summer.
The report states that the midfielder changed agents last week after being persuaded to do so by his colleagues and has now reportedly employed the services of agent Ali Durson, whose clients include Victor Lindelof and Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
Make sure you have subscribed to The Arsenal Way! The Fan Brands team along with plenty of your football.london favourites will be producing daily Arsenal content for you to enjoy including match reactions, podcasts, football fun and interviews. You can follow Tom Canton from the TAW team to keep up to date with his work.