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Analysis
- 9 hours ago
Arteta picks new midfielder: Arsenal's €30m signing opportunity
Robin Bairner
- 17 Jul 2025 08:15 BST
- 4 min read
News
Arsenal’s transfer window continues to accelerate, with Mikel Arteta having made a bid for a new midfield star.
The Gunners will have a significant turnover in the middle of the park this summer, with both Jorginho and Thomas Partey allowed to leave on free transfers at the end of their contracts.
As such, a couple of new deep-lying players are required. Martin Zubimendi has already arrived from Real Sociedad, with Arteta having earmarked Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha as the other player he wants for that area.
Current ETV
João Palhinha
DM, M (C)
Bayern
João Palhinha
DM, M (C)
Bayern
ETV Range
€29.2M - €35.7M
According to Bild, Arsenal even made bids for the 30-year-old prior to the FIFA Club World Cup but these were knocked back by FCB.
Palhinha could be available for transfer just a year after arriving from Fulham. He was unable to make an impact under Vincent Kompany last season, featuring on just 24 occasions across all competitions. He started just nine games and failed to score or assist for the Bundesliga winners.
A deal is still possible
Arsenal want Palhinha because Arteta values his experience. Not only does the Spaniard want an older head in the middle of the field – something lost with the departures of Jorghinho and Partey – but he also wants a player with a Premier League track record. The Portuguese ticks both boxes.
Although they were unable to reach an agreement with Bayern prior to the Club World Cup, the door remains open for the Gunners to try again for the ex-Fulham player.
The German club are said to be ready to accept an offer in the region of €30m. This would represent excellent value for Arsenal given Palhinha has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €32.4m.
Inter Milan are thought to offer the biggest threat in this transfer race to Arsenal, although interest comes from elsewhere in the Premier League as well as Italy, Spain, Turkey and Portugal.
For his part, Palhinha would only leave Bayern for an enticing offer – and a bid from Arsenal to take him back to London is likely to fall into that category.
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