Arsenal
Arsenal & Liverpool Set To Battle Over Midfielder After Club Decides To Sell
Arsenal and Liverpool have been handed a major boost with Real Madrid ready to cash-in on out-of-favour midfielder Asier Illarramendi this summer
With the summer transfer window finally open for business, managers are working hard trying to strengthen their squads ahead of next season so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Arsenal and Liverpool are linked with Asier Illarramendi….
Arsenal and Liverpool have been handed a major boost with Real Madrid ready to cash-in on out-of-favour midfielder Asier Illarramendi this summer, according to the Express.
Illarramendi made his name at Real Sociedad after progressing through the clubs youth system but his career has stalled after failing to make an impact at the Bernabeu following a big-money move in 2013.
The 25-year-old made just 10 league starts last season and his chances of regular action aren’t much better under new boss Rafa Benitez this coming campaign, so he’s been strongly linked with a move away this summer.
It seems a switch to the Premier League could be on the cards as the Express claim that Arsenal and Liverpool have both been showing a keen interest in luring the midfielder to England.
The duo have now been handed a major boost as the newspaper is citing reports coming from Spanish outlet Marca which suggest Real Madrid have decided to cash-in on Illarramendi, so a battle between Arsenal and Liverpool could now ensue.
The Gunners could certainly do with a deep lying playmaker to replace Mikel Arteta with the skipper now out-of-contract and struggling to overcome a long-term calf injury, and Illarramendi would be an excellent option.
READ MORE –> Liverpool transfer news | Arsenal transfer news
He may not be the powerful destroyer many Gooners feel they need in the middle of the park but he would give Arsene Wenger’s team a player who can dictate play from in front of the back four in much the same way Arteta has done in recent years.
However, Liverpool could also do with more options in midfield following the departure of Steven Gerrard and there’s little doubt that Illarramendi would be a big upgrade on the likes of Joe Allen, so it will be interesting to see where he ends up if both clubs formalise their interest over the coming weeks.
