Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing AC Milan’s Brahim Diaz in the upcoming summer transfer window.
According to reports from Nacional, Mikel Arteta is “obsessed” with the attacking midfielder and believes he can play a “very leading role” at Arsenal.
Brahim Diaz is currently on loan at Milan from Real Madrid, where he struggled to adapt to life at the club.
The 23-year-old could move to Milan permanently for £18m, but the Italian club are said to be struggling to come up with the finances for the deal.
Arteta reportedly wants Arsenal to repeat the successful process conducted with Martin Odegaard, another Real Madrid player who struggled to adapt and was eventually signed by Arsenal.
The Gunners paid £30m for Odegaard, who has become one of Europe’s most efficient number 10s and has more than repaid his price tag with his performances for Arteta’s side.
Diaz is in high demand, with Chelsea and Newcastle reportedly monitoring his situation.
However, Edu Gaspar could gamble around £20m for an attacking playmaker already worthy of Champions League football.
Brahim Diaz 22/23 stats
Brahim Diaz has made 31 appearances for AC Milan in all competitions, including 23 in Serie A, scoring four goals and providing two assists.
He has played in six Champions League matches, scoring one goal. He also made an appearance in the Supercoppa Italiana.
In total, he has played for 1,766 minutes for Milan, scoring every 354 minutes.
Brahim Diaz with Spain
Brahim Diaz has made a single appearance for Spain’s national team, scoring one goal in that one appearance. He has not been called up for this international break.
He has also played for Spain’s U21 team, scoring two goals in eight appearances, and for Spain’s U19 team, making eight appearances without scoring.
Additionally, Diaz has played for Spain’s U17 team, scoring three goals in nine appearances.
Brahim Diaz club history
Brahim Diaz is on loan at AC Milan from Real Madrid with the deal set to expire at the end of the current season.
He signed for Real Madrid in a €17m move from Manchester City in 2019 after five years with the Citizens, who signed him as a teenager from Malaga’s youth setup for €350k.