By Betsefy
Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Portuguese midfielder Xeka, who is a free agent after leaving Lille.
The 27-year-old initially arrived at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on loan in January 2017 before securing a permanent deal in the summer of that same year, having previously represented Braga and Valencia at youth level.
Xeka was a regular fixture in the Dogues midfield during his five-and-a-half year spell with the Ligue 1 side and made 33 appearances during their title-winning season in 2020-21.
The Portuguese – who also won the Trophee des Champions with Lille – totalled nine goals and seven assists in 144 games for Les Dogues, including four goals and one assist from 31 outings last term.
Despite allowing Renato Sanches to join Paris Saint-Germain, Lille also allowed Xeka to run down his contract, and the free agent is now on the lookout for a new club.
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According to 90Min, Xeka’s representatives have offered Arsenal and numerous other clubs – including other teams in the Premier League – the chance to sign their client.
The report adds that the 27-year-old is yet to receive a concrete offer from the North London club, but he has nevertheless garnered “positive” responses from English teams.
Rennes are also understood to have been in talks over the signing of Xeka, who also earned Europa League and Champions League experience during his time at Lille.
Barring the acquisition of Fabio Vieira – who traditionally plays as a number 10 or out wide – Arsenal failed to add to their central midfield ranks in the summer transfer window.
The Gunners were persistently linked with a move for Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans, but the Belgian remains at the King Power ahead of the expiration of his contract in the summer.
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Granit Xhaka, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey are the current midfield options in Mikel Arteta‘s ranks, although the latter two are currently out injured.
Partey will hope to return from a thigh problem for Sunday’s clash at Brentford, but Elneny is facing months on the sidelines with a hamstring issue and is unlikely to return before 2023.
The pair’s injuries triggered Arsenal’s unsuccessful pursuit of a new midfielder on deadline day, with Aston Villa said to have turned down as many as three bids for Douglas Luiz.
Oleksandr Zinchenko can also deputise in the middle, but the Ukrainian FA have revealed that the ex-Manchester City man is out for a couple of weeks with a muscular problem.
Arsenal will likely return for a new lynchpin in the January window, but for now, the Gunners can only look to sign free agents and are understood to be exploring their options.
