Arsene Wenger was reportedly close to providing Arsenal with the perfect player to slot into the Arsenal midfield. The former Gunners’ boss was close to signing Federico Valverde in 2014 according to Spanish news outlets.
AS reported that the midfielder had ‘reached a verbal agreement’ with Arsenal while still at his former club Penarol. He had been scouted by Arsenal’s Francis Cagigao, who was Arsene Wenger’s right-hand man for over two decades at the club.
And now it seems that Mikel Arteta could look to complete the unsuccessful mission when Wenger was the Gunners’ boss. Valverde has shown that he is an elite player, and with the midfield needing to be strengthened, it is a potential deal that could be explored.
The need to strengthen in the midfield area was evident at the start of the transfer window. This was made even more clear when injuries suffered to Thomas Partey and Mohammed Elneny during the early weeks of the season had seriously weakened Mikel Arteta’s options in the middle of the park.
According to Uruguayan news outlet Defensa Central, Arsenal scouts watched Real Madrid vs Shakhtar to see Mykhaylo Mudryk in action but returned to London ‘hallucinating’ over Federico Valverde’s performance.
Considering the success of Valverde, who is now a regular starter at Real Madrid under Carlo Ancelotti, and Arsenal’s desperate need for midfield strengthening in the transfer window, it would be a match made in heaven for the Gunners.
