As this summer’s transfer window has brought bad news after bad news for Arsenal, The Guardian finally provide a glimmer of hope on deadline day with the suggestion that they could make a £40 million bid for Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri in the final hours of the window.
What would Seri bring to the Emirates?
A creative midfielder, Seri has been tipped as one of France’s most underrated talents, surely making him an Arsene Wenger favourite. Seri boasts immense technical ability and an impressive range of passing.
Seri often occupies a deeper role, looking to play a killer ball from distance. That kind of option is something that is in short supply in the Arsenal squad, with their deeper midfield options such as Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka not known for their creativity and vision.
The Ivory Coast international also boasts a good shot from distance, scoring a number of memorable goals throughout his career. That could be a valuable source of goals for the Gunners.
Is a move likely?
With The Telegraph saying that Manchester City officials have traveled to Chile to complete a move for Alexis Sanchez and the Liverpool Echo saying that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain underwent a medical with Liverpool on Wednesday night, Arsenal desperately need a signing to boost confidence.
The Gunners clearly have money to spend, with as much as £85 million expected to be incoming from the sales of Sanchez and Oxlade-Chamberlain. £40 million would not even represent half of that figure and would leave room for more money to be spent elsewhere.
After a move to Barcelona collapsed, it seems that Seri and Nice could both be open to a sale. With little speculation of late though, there is not much time left for Arsenal to move to seal what would be a late swoop for the central midfielder.