Arsenal close in on £26m Torreira and deal for Ramsey
Emery poised to employ a new midfield system Gazidis reveals details of rejigged transfer model
Unai Emery is close to finalising his midfield for next season following positive contract talks with Aaron Ramsey and the planned completion of a £26million deal for Lucas Torreira, the Uruguay midfielder.
With Jack Wilshere moving on after being told that first-team opportunities would be limited, Emery has identified Granit Xhaka and Ramsey as his two senior central midfielders and, with the Swiss player having extended his contract until 2023, the expectation now is that Ramsey will follow in committing for what should be the prime years of his career.
Ramsey and Arsenal have been in negotiations over a new four- or five-year contract and it is understood both that the most recent talks have been progressing positively and that the Wales midfielder is enthused by the prospect of working under Emery.
Arsenal have also agreed new contracts this year for midfielders Ainsley Maitland-niles and Mohamed Elneny, who are again likely to be squad players, while the move for Torreira suggests that Emery plans to use Xhaka and Ramsey slightly differently next season.
The lack of a natural screening presence behind Xhaka or Ramsey has often seemed to unbalance the team in recent seasons and it is hoped that a deal to bring the 22-year-old Torreira from Sampdoria can be progressed once he finishes his World Cup involvement.
Emery met Arsenal fans at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night and told them that he would endeavour to implement an attacking style of football next season. “I prefer to win 5-4 than 1-0 because football is about emotion and what is the best feeling in football? When you score,” he said.
Ivan Gazidis, the chief executive, also explained more about the offfield revolution following Arsene Wenger’s departure as manager and how they were working to a new transfer model.
Gazidis stressed that decisions on players would be collective but that Emery would have a major influence on that process and players would not be signed who were not wanted by the new head coach.
“We have a collective effort now, in terms of how we identify players and then how we take forward our interest, and of course Unai is a huge part of that,” said Gazidis.
“This is now a different way of doing things, one with a very accomplished team of professionals who we have spent time bedding into the club.”