Arsenal are now considering a £40m offer for an “exceptional” midfielder who’s been likened to Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, according to a report.

Berta determined to sign a midfielder

Incoming sporting director Andrea Berta could be set for a busy first summer transfer window, and one of his main goals is to bring in a new central midfielder, with Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi being named as a key target.

Zubimendi has been a target for quite some time, but while signing the Spaniard is seemingly a priority, there are other options in mind, with the Gunners reportedly submitting a £58m bid to sign Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes last week.

Alongside a central midfielder, Mikel Arteta is also considering options in a slightly more advanced role, with River Plate’s Franco Mastantuono emerging as a target in attacking midfield, although there could be competition from Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Arsenal now shortlist "sensational" £42m PL forward; Arteta's a big fan

The Gunners have set their sights on a Premier League attacker.

By
Dominic Lund

Mar 26, 2025

A report from Caught Offside has provided an update on Arsenal’s pursuit of another attacking midfielder, revealing the race to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha is now hotting up, with a number of Premier League clubs considering moves.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and the Gunners are all named as potential suitors for Nmecha, with the English clubs potentially willing to make a €48m (£40m) offer for his services, depending on how his injury situation unfolds.

The midfielder is currently sidelined with a knee ligament issue, meaning he has not featured for Dortmund as of late, and the interested parties are waiting for him to return before making any concrete moves.

The German side need to trim their squad in the summer transfer window, in order to balance the books, so it is deemed likely the 24-year-old will be sold.

Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures	Date
Fulham (h)	April 1st
Everton (a)	April 5th
Real Madrid (h)	April 8th
Brentford (h)	April 12th
Real Madrid (a)	April 16th

"Exceptional" Nmecha could be versatile option for Arteta

The German has been impressing in the Bundesliga for quite some time, with former manager Nuri Şahin lauding him for his versatility earlier in the campaign: “I can only judge him based on the last ten or eleven months. But I think he has everything, he has an exceptional profile for a midfielder. He can play in the number six role, but can also play at number eight and ten.”

Earlier in his career, the maestro was also compared to De Bruyne by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, most likely due to his vision, creativity and passing ability. The Hamburg-born midfielder doesn’t record the same attacking numbers as the Man City star, having picked up just one assist this season, but his ability to play in multiple positions makes him an intriguing option.

There is no doubt Arteta needs to add depth to his squad, with the injuries Arsenal have suffered this season exposing their lack of experienced back-up options, and Nmecha could be a suitable signing, if he is able to overcome his injury issues.