Can Arsenal land the next Patrick Vieira for just £17m?

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Arsenal have reportedly made contact over potentially signing Denis Zakaria.

According to BILD (via The Sun), the Gunners have begun talks over the Switzerland international.

However, Arsenal aren’t the only Premier League club reportedly in the chase.

As well as the Gunners, Everton and north London rivals Spurs are also in pursuit of the Borussia Monchengladbach enforcer.

If the report is true, then Arsenal fans should be excited about potentially signing Zakaria.

The 24-year-old is a highly-rated player who has already won 34 caps for his nation.

In addition, Zakaria has clocked up an impressive 129 competitive appearances for Gladbach, plus 67 for BSC Young Boys.

Arsenal target Zakaria – comparisons with legendary midfielders

The 6ft 3in ace’s style of play has been compared to that of Patrick Vieira, Paul Pogba and Zinedine Zidane.

“I’ve been compared to Vieira and Pogba – two more players I really respect and, in a way, see as role models,” the Bundesliga website quotes Zakaria as saying a few years ago.

“When I watch videos of them I think I’d like to play that way.”

The same article quotes Swiss icon Yann Sommer as saying: “He combines many qualities that were really defined by Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane.”

And Lothar Matthaus added: “I’m glad that Gladbach have found another pearl.

“At his age I was earning my first stripes for Borussia. He reminds me of Toni Kroos at that age.”

Arsenal fans will definitely enjoy comparisons with Vieira, one of the best players to have worn the famous red-and-white shirt.

And with a reported price tag potentially as low as £17million, he’d be a bargain for the Gunners.