Paul Merson says he'd rather sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic for Arsenal than Tielemans
Paul Merson has urged Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to go and sign Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic this summer.
It is no secret at all at this point that the Gunners are on the market looking for a new central midfielder. Leicester City star Youri Tielemans has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates for a few months now, and many believe he’d be a fine signing for Arsenal.
Merson agrees that the Belgian would tick all the boxes. The fact that he knows the Premier League well means he will most likely come in and hit the ground running, which would be ideal for the Gunners next season.
However, if it was up to Merson, he’d snub Tielemans and sign Milinkovic-Savic instead.
Paul Merson prefers Sergej Milinkovic-Savic over Youri Tielemans for Arsenal
In his column on The Daily Star, Merson wrote: “Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has had a good summer of transfer business following the arrival of Gabriel Jesus, but out of the top-class midfielder signings he could make, one player stands out.
“Leicester’s Tielemans would tick the box for Arsenal. He’d be a decent alternative. But Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is the player I would go for.
“If Arsenal get either of those two, they have had a major window. Now more than ever, Arsenal need a top-class midfielder to compete with the best. And I think Savic is a lovely player. A really top-drawer player. The way he played for Lazio last season I personally think he is the best midfield player in Italy.
“I know Manchester United have been linked with him in the past, but why there isn’t a queue of clubs lining up to buy the Serbian, I do not know. I think a lot of clubs are missing a trick.
“Signing a top-class midfielder gives them (Arsenal) every chance. You’d be saying it’s between Arsenal and Tottenham for fourth, and maybe even looking at overtaking Chelsea.”
The Gunners have already bid for the Serbian
Milinkovic-Savic is no stranger to Premier League links. The midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to England for a while now, with Tottenham and Liverpool both previously rumoured to be interested.
This summer, however, the rumour mill has linked him to Arsenal, and the Gunners have even reportedly tabled a bid to sign him.
Reports revealed earlier this week that Arsenal and Newcastle both lodged bids in excess of £40 million for Milinkovic-Savic, while another report claimed that the Gunners could go back in with an offer as high as £55.7 million.
Merson would definitely take Milinkovic-Savic at Arsenal this summer, but whether Mikel Arteta is just as interested as the pundit remains to be seen.
