£50m player Arsenal missed out on now branded ‘signing of the century’ after stellar Club World Cup display

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Arsenal fans are experiencing a quiet summer in the transfer market.

The Gunners are yet to make a signing under Andrea Berta since the Italian replaced Edu Gaspar as Director of Football in March.

Arsenal are close to signing Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, a move which will add real quality to the midfield department, but a new striker is also wanted as the north Londoners explore deals for Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres.

Mikel Arteta is also eager to sign a new defender, and there was a target Arsenal missed out on earlier this summer who is already receiving lofty praise at his new club in Dean Huijsen.

Dean Huijsen named ‘signing of the century’ by Spanish media after Arsenal miss out

Arsenal could sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace after the south Londoners opened talks with Sporting CP over a deal for Ousmane Diomande.

However, TBR Football understand Arsenal wanted Huijsen before the England international, and expressed a genuine interest in triggering his £50m release clause before it became apparent the Spain international only wanted to join Real Madrid.

The 20-year-old has made just two appearances for Los Blancos so far, but is already making a significant impact.

Spanish journalist Tomas Roncero even called Huijsen the “signing of the century” for Real Madrid while contributing to a live blog for AS, after the Spanish giants defeated Pachuca 3-1 at the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday, a match in which the Spaniard saw his defensive partner Raul Asencio dismissed after just seven minutes for a foul on Salomon Rondon.

Joselu – the Spain international who left the Santiago Bernabeu for Saudi Arabia last summer – added to the praise, saying that the central defender is “going to earn a place in the hearts of Real Madrid fans” after making a strong first impression under Xabi Alonso.

Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta are in a difficult position due to Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba

Berta has a tricky task on his hands in finding a new central defender for Arsenal.

The Gunners already have an undisputed pairing in the centre of defence in Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, so the Italian needs to find somebody accepting of an initial backup role, but also someone who backs themselves to eventually disturb the duo and break into the starting XI.

It is a tough position to sell to any defender, but a quality option for depth is certainly needed in that area.