Arsenal have a difficult, but crucial job on their hands this summer in replacing Granit Xhaka.
Xhaka has agreed personal terms with AS Roma, football.london understands, although the two clubs are yet to agree on a fee for the Switzerland midfielder.
Despite not always being a crowd favourite among Gunners fans, the 28-year-old has been a staple under Mikel Arteta since the Spaniard's appointment as boss in December 2019.
Throughout the 2020/21 season, Xhaka featured for Arsenal 45 times in all competitions, proving his importance to the north Londoners.
So with the former Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder looking set to trade London for Rome, it is imperative Arteta and Edu can identify a replacement in the near future.
Now, according to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, via Metro, that is exactly what they have done. The report claims that Arsenal are plotting a move for AZ Alkmaar midfielder Teun Koopmeiners.
It is said that the Gunners are 'preying' on Koopmeiners but are likely to face stern competition from clubs all around the continent. Rennes, Inter Milan, Roma, Atalanta, Leeds United and Brighton & Hove Albion are all said to be interested in the highly-rated 23-year-old.
However, the Gunners look to have a major advantage over the aforementioned list of clubs in the pursuit of the Dutchman, with Koopmeiners said to be a lifelong supporter of the north London club.
The Netherlands international has just under two years remaining on his contract with Alkmaar which looks set to drive down the Dutch club's asking price of their midfielder.
Spanish outlet AS report that Koopmeiners will be available to purchase this summer for around £14.5million.
Koopmeiners' agent, Bart Baving, flirted with the prospect of his client leaving Holland over the summer, when speaking back in March earlier this year.
Baving told FCInterNews: "Koopmeiners is on the shortlists of many clubs in Europe's top five leagues and Inter are one of them.
"I haven't spoken directly to the Nerazzurri yet but it's still early in the season and we'll see what happens in the next few months.
"For now, Teun is focused on AZ Alkmaar and the Dutch national team."
Despite being in Frank de Boer's Holland squad, Koopmeiners failed to play a single minute at the recently-concluded Euro 2020 tournament, with the Dutch side crashing out at the Round of 16 after defeat to Czech Republic.
But for Alkmaar last season, the central midfielder scored an impressive 17 goals in all competitions.
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