Arsenal in talks to sign £80m star who’s better than Tonali

Could Arsenal pull off another Eberechi-Eze type hijack this summer? Quite possibly.

Back in the winter, the Gunners’ interest in Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali was revealed and while a move did not occur then, they remain interested in the Italian.

It’s been reported that Arsenal have been in talks for ‘for weeks’ regarding a move but they have not formalised their interest to the Toon just yet.

Also at the table are Spurs. Tonali is their leading target and they have agreed personal terms with the player. A mega-money move could genuinely be on the cards, providing Andrea Berta and Co do not leapfrog them in the race.

Should he not move to the Emirates Stadium, then Arsenal do have plenty of alternatives on their radar.

Arsenal targeting major midfield signing this summer

Valued at £85m, a move for Tonali would be a major investment this summer but such is the state of the market, no Premier League proven midfielder is going to be cheap.

Three years ago, Declan Rice moved to north London for a mega £105m fee. Moises Caicedo then moved for £115m. This year. Elliot Anderson looks poised to join Manchester City for a fee over £120m.

As a result, if you want a midfielder with experience of English football, that will be the benchmark. It explains why Tonali has been valued so highly and why Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is also held in a similar regard as far as a price tag is concerned.

The same can be said for Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, a player now on Arsenal’s radar. Valued at £80m amid talk of ongoing contract negotiations, Fabrizio Romano revealed the latest on the player’s future via his YouTube channel.

Romano said: “He remains a player on the shortlist at Arsenal. One of the players they appreciate. Conversations are ongoing with the agents of the player and also with Bournemouth to understand whether there is a possibility of a move.

“Bournemouth are offering a new contract to the player. Bournemouth are really pushing for the player to stay with a release clause but Arsenal are considering the player.”

Why Scott would be a better signing than Tonali

In Tonali, Arsenal would be getting their hands on a player described as “one of the best midfielders in the world” by his agent Beppe Riso.

For Newcastle, he has proven himself to be an elite talent, a world-class number 6 capable of dictating play but also progressing it forward.

Yet, he does not offer the same sort of rounded package that Scott offers. In short, the Guernsey-born midfielder is more of a complete package and suits more what Arsenal require this summer.

Since his breakthrough at Bristol City, he has long been highly thought of. He’s developed nicely at the Cherries but it was not until 2025/26 that he really exploded onto the scene with a series of incredibly impressive performances.

Arsenal witnessed firsthand the damage that Scott can do when he scored what looked like a fatal goal in their title charge at the Emirates, running onto the ball and firing a devastating finish past David Raya.

Aged just 22, Scott only picked up one assist last term and scored four goals but his impact was felt far beyond what he offered in the final third. Indeed, in a lot of the metrics associated with being a top-level midfielder, he bettered Tonali last season.

On the cusp of the England squad for the World Cup, Scott didn’t quite make the final cut but it was no surprise to see why he was in the conversation.

If Tonali is one of the best midfielders in the league then Scott is certainly up there too. For Bournemouth, he was absolutely everywhere. He is a better and more effective carrier and dribbler of the ball than the Italian while he gets through a lot more defensive work.

That’s not just because Andoni Iraola’s side perhaps did more defending but because Scott generally loves engaging in duels. He’s also remarkably press resistant, drawing more fouls.

Capable of playing as a more deeper-lying midfielder or further forward as a no.8, the Bournemouth man would add plenty to Arsenal’s midfield.

Like Martin Zubimendi, he’s crisp in possession. Like Rice, he recovers the ball exceptionally well and like Myles Lewis-Skelly, he carries the ball forward with plenty of purpose.

£80m sounds like a lot but at the age of 22, this is a player with the potential to become an England and Arsenal regular.