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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Jonathan Gorrie

Arsenal transfer news: Club urged to sign Morocco World Cup 2022 stars Sofyan Amrabat and Azzedine Ounahi

Breakouts: Sofyan Amrabat and Azzedine Ounahi emerged as major stars for Morocco at the World Cup

(Picture: Getty Images)

Ray Parlour has urged Arsenal to make a move for Morocco’s World Cup stars Sofyan Amrabat and Azzedine Ounahi.

Mikel Arteta has already confirmed the club are “very active” ahead of the January transfer window and the Gunners boss will be backed with more investment after a strong start to the season.

The club did try and sign a midfielder over the course of the summer but saw a late bid for Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz fail, while Fiorentina’s Amrabat impressing during Morocco’s route to the World Cup semi-finals.

Tottenham were previously interested in the 26-year-old, while Liverpool and Barcelona have recently been linked.

The addition of another attacker is also thought to be on the cards. Standard Sport understand Arsenal have opened talks with Shakhtar Donetsk over the signing of in-form winger Mykhaylo Mudryk after the ultimately fruitless summer pursuit of Wolves forward Pedro Neto.

Like Amrabat, Ounahi played a key role in guiding the Atlas Lions to the final four, making history as the first African team to do so. Currently with French side Angers, the 22-year-old has seen his stock rise as a result.

So much so that Parlour believes the pair would be perfect for his former club in January.

“Ounahi, the No.8, he is different class,” he told talkSPORT.

“Would I take him at Arsenal? Definitely!”

‘With that performance and what I’ve seen of him in this tournament, he’s not fazed by big games, the biggest game for his country maybe ever.

“He just looked so comfortable, he was always on the half-turn and looking to probe and try to get balls in behind the full-backs.

“Amrabat, he’s a player, too. If I was Arsenal I’d be looking at him. Central midfield, he can get his foot in. A very good player.”

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