As rumours about some truly elite talent that could help them surpass Manchester City have started to circulate, Arsenal may be on the verge of making one of the signings of the summer.
Joshua Kimmich is departing from Bayern Munich.
The most recent suggestion comes from the Spanish publication Marca, who contend that Mikel Arteta might lure Joshua Kimmich to north London in order to capitalise on his hazy future.
The report attempts to describe Barcelona’s interest as they look to replace the recently departed Sergio Busquets, but Premier League intrigue is saved for the article’s conclusion.
His FootballTransfers valuation of €67.9m (£59m) is expected to spark interest in the imposing midfield maestro, with the Gunners reportedly showing interest alongside Liverpool.
How talented is Josh Kimmich?
The 28-year-old powerhouse joined Bayern Munich in 2015 and quickly made a name for himself as one of the team’s top players. The German international’s true creative potential has been unlocked by switching from right-back to central midfield, following the legendary Philipp Lahm’s career trajectory.
This is demonstrated by the fact that his average rating in the Bundesliga last season was a lofty 7.73. He contributed to 11 goals, had a pass completion rate of 90%, 2.4 tackles, 2.7 key passes, and 1.2 interceptions per game, according to Sofascore, making him the star performer on a team full of superstars.
Few people in his position in all of Europe are arguably as exceptional in every way, so Julian Nagelsmann’s assertions about the £322k-per-week average make sense:
He excels at both right-back and midfield, which is fantastic.
If he were to move to England this summer under Arteta’s direction, it would perfectly match Granit Xhaka’s recent departure.
The £120k-per-week gem transformed into a true offensive threat during the course of the season as a box-to-box monster, completing his redemption arc and elevating him to the status of one of Arsenal’s key players.
Although he sought an exit due to his desire for a long-term contract, his move to Bayer Leverkusen was confirmed earlier this month.
Although we have already spent over £200 million this summer, it will be difficult to replace his 14 league goals contributed, and none of the three marquee names we brought in are expected to fill that position with such firepower.
Thus, a sizable opening has occurred that Kimmich could easily fill.
Not only do his statistics outperform the majority of Xhaka’s from his most recent victory, but the deep-lying playmaker has also had a distinguished career filled with top honours. He has eight Bundesliga championships, three German cups, and one Champions League in his trophy cabinet.
This kind of experience would be priceless in helping them advance in their pursuit of the Premier League championship, which they so narrowly missed last year.
In order to compare his performance to that of his potential replacement, the 30-year-old Swiss international’s 7.05 average rating, 86% pass accuracy, 1.3 key passes, and 0.9 key passes per game, as reported by Sofascore, pale in comparison.
When rumours of Xhaka’s impending departure first surfaced, fans may have been concerned, but if Kimmich is chosen to replace him, they may be less concerned than initially thought.
