Arsenal's pursuit of Ryan Fraser is well-documented.
The winger was supposed to be on the cusp of a move to the Emirates Stadium last summer before the Gunners smashed their transfer record to sign Nicolas Pepe from Lille.
Pursuing Fraser raised eyebrows from the start, with some fans questioning why the club want a Bournemouth player when there are plenty of alternatives already deemed better than the Scottish winger.
While players signed from Premier League rivals usually come at a premium, Fraser is out of contract this summer and would be allowed to join Arsenal for free.
But is that lure enough?
Here are four alternative widemen Arsenal could sign who would still provide value for money...
Emiliano Buendia
Norwich City’s Argentine right-winger has been one of the surprise packages in the Premier League this season.
Despite having failed to score in the league, he does have seven assists to his name and has been a consummate creative force for the Canaries.
One of the attractive aspects of Fraser’s style of play is the number of passes he completes into the opposition penalty area. He has done so on 41 occasions this season... but Buendia's record is 52.
Both wingers play for clubs at the bottom of the table, but Norwich are more likely than the Cherries to succumb to the drop.
So with Norwich back in the Championship, Arsenal could move for a hard-working, highly-productive wide presence like Buendia at a cut-price.
Milot Rashica
Another highlight of Fraser’s game is his speed. The Scottish international is lightning quick, but the same can be said of Werder Bremen wideman Milot Rashica.
The Kosova international possesses blistering pace and has shown his class for a struggling Bundesliga side this season.
He would provide ample competition on the flanks for the likes of Pepe as part of Mikel Arteta’s attack.
Rashica is also a natural in front of goal having scored seven times in 20 Bundesliga outings this season, as well as on nine occasions last term, while Fraser has found the net just 13 times over the last three Premier League campaigns.
With Bremen’s Bundesliga status hanging in the balance, the Germans could be forced to offload the 23-year-old for cheap this summer if they go down.
Mounir Chouiar
Despite his speed, Fraser’s diminutive stature makes it difficult for him to beat defenders in one-on-ones, but one man who faces no such issue is Dijon midfielder Mounir Chouiar, who has a height advantage of around half a foot over the Scotsman.
Not only is he especially enthusiastic when it comes to beating players, Chouiar is also dangerously efficient, with only Lille’s Jonathan Ikoné and Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar completing more dribbles in Ligue 1 this season.
With the premature conclusion of the French top flight, the 21-year-old could be on the lookout for a move ahead of next season and Arsenal could use the time off to convince him to move to north London.
Dijon remain one of France’s least wealthy top flight clubs, so the financial implications of the current football shutdown mean the Gunners could test the waters for one of Ligue 1’s most exciting prospects with a bid as low as €10m (£8.75m).
Said Benrahma
Brentford winger Said Benrahma is without doubt one of the most exciting players in the Football League. His silky brand of football and consistent output is reminiscent of Adel Taarabt’s stint in London with QPR.
Benrahma’s future with the Bees remains uncertain, with speculation surrounding a Premier League switch regularly rearing its head as he continues to impress in the Championship.
At 24 years-old, the Algerian is just entering his peak years and has proven he is capable of creating chances, scoring goals and entertaining spectators in the second tier.
Arsenal just need to decide whether he can make the step up.
