Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is said to have been identified as a target for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners will be hoping that their 1-0 win on Sunday against Manchester United at Old Trafford can be the start of a successful Premier League season. – Barcelona also had a good start to the season with a 0-3 win over Mallorca at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix.
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New signings such as Viktor Gyökeres and Martin Zubimendi made their competitive league debuts for the London side, although they have a lot to go on.
Arteta could make more reinforcements this summer, but given the Spaniard’s careful approach, it wouldn’t be surprising if he was already planning for future transfer windows.
According to Fichajes, the Arsenal manager plans to sign De Jong from Barcelona next summer, when his contract expires, and he sees the midfielder as a “perfect” signing.
Does Frenkie de Jong make sense for Arsenal and Arteta?
Arsenal signed Zubimendi to play as a defensive midfielder, and the 26-year-old is likely to be a mainstay in the starting line-up in the coming years.
Declan Rice was originally used as a “number six” when he joined the club in 2023, but he has since distinguished himself as a “number eight” and is unlikely to be taken out of the team in favour of De Jong.
The Barcelona player will also have difficulty taking Martin Ødegaard’s place, as the Norwegian is the club’s captain.
De Jong may not quite fit Arsenal’s needs, as the Gunners have struggled creatively at times, and while the Dutchman is an outstanding passer, he is not a specialist in the attacking third – he has recorded four or fewer assists in each of the last seven league seasons.
Will Arteta still be in charge next summer if he doesn’t win the Premier League?
Arteta has consistently shown that he can fight for the Premier League title, but after finishing second three seasons in a row, the pressure on the Spaniard is mounting.
If he doesn’t win the title this season, questions could be raised about his position as manager, especially as the club’s last trophy was the FA Cup in 2020.
Striker Gyökeres struggled to make his mark against Manchester United, with just four passes completed and not a single shot, and his performance has raised doubts about how well he fits into Arteta’s system.
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If the Arsenal manager doesn’t get the best out of his players in the 2025/26 season, he could be under significant pressure ahead of the 2026/27 season.
