Move over Merino: Arsenal could land £51m dream Odegaard partner who’s like Musiala – opinion

Arsenal’s transfer activity has been slow so far, with the only new addition being David Raya, who made his loan move permanent for the upcoming 2024/25 Premier League season.

However, they may soon sign a second player, Riccardo Calafiori, as journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed he has passed his medical exam and will join the team in the US.

Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, seems to have succeeded in bringing the Italian defender to the team but is still looking to strengthen the midfield to boost their chances of winning the Premier League this season.

The latest player linked to Arsenal is Mikel Merino, who could be a good fit. Arsenal is in talks with Real Sociedad to sign the Euro 2024 winner, and they might take advantage of his contract situation.

Even though discussions are progressing, Arteta’s team should also consider signing another player from Spain who might be available for a good price this summer.

Arsenal should aim to sign Dani Olmo, a talented player valued at £51 million.

Recently, there has been talk about Arsenal potentially signing Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig. Olmo had an impressive performance for Spain at Euro 2024, scoring three goals and providing two assists. Other big clubs like Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea are also interested, so Arsenal needs to act fast to sign him.

Olmo’s performances at Euro 2024 have earned him a lot of attention and recognition. Reports suggest he has a release clause of €60m (£51m) in his current contract with RB Leipzig, which is considered a good deal for a player of his caliber.

Besides his success at the tournament, Olmo also had an excellent 2023/24 season in the Bundesliga. His stats are comparable to Jamal Musiala, a young star from Bayern Munich.

Jamal Musiala has become one of the top young players in the world, playing for Bayern Munich. Since debuting in 2020, the 21-year-old has made 163 appearances, scoring 43 goals and providing 43 assists, averaging one goal contribution every two games.

While Musiala has great stats, Olmo has matched or even surpassed some of them per 90 minutes in the 2023/24 season. According to FBref, Olmo is similar to Musiala in terms of playing style.

In the Bundesliga, Olmo, who is considered “world-class” by journalist Victor Catalina, had fewer combined goals and assists than Musiala but managed more assists per 90 minutes.

Here’s a comparison of their stats in the 2023/24 Bundesliga season:

Olmo also had the same number of passes per 90 minutes and matched Musiala in progressive carries into the final third. This makes Olmo an ideal partner for Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, as both players like to advance the ball and play forward whenever possible.

Odegaard excelled in a box-to-box role last season, winning possession and then moving the ball forward. Olmo’s ability to make 4.7 recoveries per 90 minutes shows he can fit into this role well, breaking up play and then showcasing his creativity.

While Mikel Merino might be a cheaper option for Arsenal, Dani Olmo has many qualities that would benefit the team. He is versatile, able to play in various midfield roles, and can impact both defense and attack.

• Paying £51 million for a player of Olmo’s quality is a bargain in today’s market. Arsenal needs to act quickly to secure his services amid strong interest from other top English clubs.