Roma are, according to reports (as per Daily Mail ), keen on making Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s loan deal a permanent one. It has been claimed that Arsenal could demand Justin Kluivert as part of a swap deal for the Armenian, but who else might the Gunners look at?
Here are four potential targets from Roma they could consider in any negotiations for Mkhitaryan.
Edin Dzeko
Arsenal might boast two of the best centre-forwards in the Premier League right now, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette both proven at finding the back of the net, but there remains uncertainty over both players’ futures. The Gunners could, therefore, be in the market for an experienced striker this summer.
Edin Dzeko would fit the bill. The Bosnian, of course, knows the Premier League having played for Manchester City and, while he is in the twilight of his career, the 34-year-old has aged well, scoring 15 times so far this season and finding the net 85 times in total for Roma. Dzeko could be an Olivier Giroud-type figure for Mikel Arteta.
Lorenzo Pellegrini
Arteta is almost certain to place an emphasis on reinforcing his midfield this summer and the signing of Lorenzo Pellegrini would certainly help in that regard. The 23-year-old is seen as one of Italian football’s brightest hopes for the future, registering eight assists in 18 Serie A appearances for Roma this season.
Pellegrini would bring a creative edge to Arsenal’s midfield, although it seems unlikely that Roma would be willing to swap him for Mkhitaryan. As part of a part-exchange deal, though, the Gunners could use Mkhitaryan as a makeweight for a player whose addition would represent a significant upgrade.
Cengiz Under
Almost every winger who enjoys even the most modest level of success at Roma is now measured against Mohamed Salah, but Cengiz Under has a greater claim than most to be compared to the Liverpool superstar. The 22-year-old has registered 17 goals and 12 assists in 85 appearances for the club and possesses great potential.
Everton have recently been linked with a move for Under (according to Calciomercato as per Inside Futbol ) with Bayern Munich, Juventus and Napoli also believed to be monitoring the Turkish international, but he would provide the Gunners with more creativity and a greater cutting edge from midfield in front of goal.
Nicolo Zaniolo
He is Roma’s prized asset. Indeed, Nicolo Zaniolo is one of the best young players in all of European football right now, with almost every elite club linked with a move for the 20-year-old at one point or another. Liverpool, as reported by Tuttosport (as per Empire of the Kop ), are believed to be interested.
As would be the case with Pellegrini, it seems unlikely that Roma would only desire Mkhitaryan in exchange for Zaniolo, but with the Serie A club hit hard by the financial knockdown of the season hiatus it’s possible Arsenal could use the Armenian to get themselves a better deal for a player who would give them some star quality.
