Arsenal are battling with Manchester United over a deal to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka on a free transfer next summer, according to Fussballdaten.
The 31-year-old has had a successful eight-year spell since moving to the Allianz Arena from Schalke in 2018. He has been a key part of the Bavarians’ dominance over the past decade, featuring in 301 games across all competitions, netting 48 goals and providing 50 assists.
He has also amassed a trophy-laden stint in Munich, winning six Bundesliga titles, three German Super Cups, the UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Super Cup.
Despite being a regular in the Bundesliga, having featured in 24 games, his reduced role in the UEFA Champions League suggests he’s no longer vital to the team. He has played only 173 minutes across all group stage games, and his only start in the competition came in the second leg of the round of 16 dead rubber against Atalanta, a match that was already decided after the 6-1 win in the first leg.
In January, both Bayern and the midfielder issued statements that they would part ways at the end of the season after mutually agreeing not to extend his stay. As such, several clubs are now set to compete for his signature.
According to Fussballdaten, Arsenal and Man Utd are in a battle to sign Goretzka as a free agent next summer.
Battle
For Arsenal, the report claims the North London club are offering him a key role in their squad next season and have placed him at the top of the shortlist of options to add physical and technical qualities to Mikel Arteta’s midfield.
On the other hand, United are looking to replace Casemiro with a player with a strong mentality and have earmarked Goretzka for that role, according to the report.
In a boost to the Gunners and Red Devils, while the German international is drawing interest from Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan and Al Hilal, the midfielder prefers a move to the Premier League, Fussballdaten adds.
Despite Mikel Merino’s injury, Arteta still has several central midfield options at his disposal, including Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard.
As a result, a move to United makes more sense, as he could be an ideal replacement for Casemiro. United could also be getting a reliable, experienced and combative defensive midfielder for free rather than spending a fee in excess of his £13m Transfermarkt valuation.
