Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is reportedly ramping up his efforts to sign Lovro Majer, a player who has been dubbed the 'next Luka Modric'.
Majer has impressed since joining Rennes at the start of last season, being named in L'Equipe's Ligue 1 Team of the Year for that campaign. He has also starred on the international stage, recently scoring in Croatia's Nations League win over Denmark.
His performances have drawn comparisons to Modric, not least because of their shared nationality. Rather than follow in Modric's footsteps and play for Tottenham though, it could be their bitter rivals Arsenal who Majer joins next.
The Gunners are understood to rate Majer highly, with scouts being sent to watch Majer feature against Denmark. Majer came off the bench to play the final 12 minutes, scoring virtually as soon as he came on.
While it was only a cameo appearance, he will still have impressed the Gunners scouts watching on. Arteta is expected to be in the market for a new central midfielder come the January transfer window.
That follows a botched attempt to buy Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz on deadline day in the summer, with three bids being rejected. It appears that Arteta's eye has now turned to Majer amid his impressive displays in France.
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Predominantly a No.8, the 24-year-old also has the ability to play further forward, much like Modric. While he has a way to match his compatriot's standards, Majer is seen as being a high-quality option.
That is something that Arsenal desperately need in the middle of the park, with Albert Sambi Lokonga struggling to impress and injury concerns around Thomas Partey. The Gunners face a challenge to secure a deal for Majer though.
He still has four years remaining on his contract, putting Rennes in a strong negotiating position. It is thought that the French side will demand a fee in the region of £52million for the Croatian international.
The Gunners may balk at that figure, opening the door to Atletico Madrid, who are also interested in the 24-year-old. The La Liga side explored a deal for Majer in the summer, but were ultimately priced out.
If Rennes were ready to slash their demands though, both Arsenal and Atletico could launch moves for him. His agent Marco Busiello has also suggested Majer may be ready for a step up, inviting Juventus to make a bid for his client.
"Lovro Majer is growing exponentially. He has also become a fixed point in Croatia. He is an ideal attacking midfielder for all the top clubs. Even for the Bianconeri, why not?" Busiello told Tuttosport last week.
"For the moment, however, there have not been any contacts with them yet. There were still the conditions to transfer him to a big team, but Rennes did not want to know."
