Enock Mwepu could be the perfect Yves Bissouma alternative for Arsenal – TBR View

Add as preferred source on Google

When Thomas Partey was signed by Arsenal on deadline day of last year, it was seen as a momentous signing for the Gunners.

The former Atletico Madrid star was regarded as one of the top central midfielders in world football, and a player who could offer stability and overall quality to the Gunners. Yet fast-forward to now, and things could not be more different.

Partey endured a tough debut season in the Premier League, with the Ghanaian international struggling for fitness for the first time in his career as well as adjusting to the rhythm and intensity of the English top-flight.

Although there were some bright sparks, most notably against Manchester United early on in the season as well as the final few matches of the campaign, it is clear that Partey struggled in his first year in England.

Though Arsenal seem to be making plans to remedy this problem.

Searching for Partey’s partner

The Gunners are set to bring in a new central midfielder this summer to partner Partey, with Brighton star Yves Bissouma hotly tipped to join the north London club. Though as the Daily Mail recently reported, Liverpool now look like the favourites to sign the 24-year-old.

Yet all is not lost for the Gunners, as reports from Austrian-based outlet Salzburger Nachrichten claim that RB Salzburg midfielder Enock Mwepu could be on the move this summer.

And this opens up an exciting door for Arsenal.

Who is Mwepu?

Mwepu, who football.london once compared to Yaya Toure, is a player who has been linked with Arsenal before, with club fanzine The Gooner reporting that the Gunners are monitoring the 6’1” midfielder, who has had an impressive two seasons with Salzburg.

The Austrian powerhouses have formed a good reputation for themselves in recent years for developing talented youngsters into formidable players, with Erling Haaland and Sadio Mane both flourishing at the club, and Mwepu could be the next player of the Salzburg production line to succeed.

A Zambian international who has played at both defensive midfield and right-midfield for Salzburg this season, Mwepu’s ability to screen the backline and bring the ball out from the back at pace make him a player who would be ideal to partner alongside Partey, who is lacking someone with the physical speed and football intelligence to unlock his true potential.

With Bissouma seemingly being locked on by Liverpool, Arsenal will need to look for alternatives for the Brighton midfielder.

Yet Mwepu could be the perfect option to bring in this summer given his overall ability to transition the ball from the defence into the attack and to match the speed of Premier League football that Partey has been lacking in a midfielder partner.