Arsenal have been fairly quiet on the transfer front this summer, although they look set to get their first senior signing over the line soon.
A £40million deal has reportedly been agreed between the Gunners and Bologna for Riccardo Calafiori, who is now on the way to London for his medical.
Arsenal also signed Tommy Setford from Ajax earlier this month, the England youth goalkeeper joining the Hale End ranks.
With dominoes now starting to fall in the market, there’s a good chance the Gunners – and other top teams – will start being even more active.
Now, according to reports from Argentina, Arsenal have apparently made contact over a 22-year-old midfielder who has been likened to Enzo Fernandez.
Arsenal make contact over Ezequiel Fernandez
The player in question is Boca Juniors talent Ezequiel Fernandez, who Arsenal were linked with in the January transfer window.
Now, according to information from ESPN’s Diego Monroig – via Bolavip – Fernandez’s entourage have ‘received information’ that the Gunners want to secure his services in this window.
Fernandez has also been linked with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Qadsiah, but their €17million (£13.2million) bid was rejected by Boca, who want a higher fee for their asset.
Who is Arsenal target Ezequiel Fernandez?
Ezequiel Fernandez is a 22-year-old professional football player who plies his trade as a defensive midfielder for Argentine giants Boca Juniors.
He has made 67 appearances for Boca, as well as 42 for previous club Atletico Tigre, and has won nine caps for Argentina’s Under-23s team.
In terms of Fernandez’s style of play, South American football expert Tim Vickery claimed in 2023 that there were similarities between the reported Arsenal target and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.
Vickery wrote on ESPN: “Enzo’s career gained momentum with a loan spell, so did Ezequiel’s, who spent last year at Tigre. Both are central midfielders. Ezequiel… is left-footed and bristling with quality.”
He went on to add: “Ezequiel might need careful handling. The youngster is still raw and erratic, and after the arrival of new coach Jorge Almiron he has spent much of his time as a second-half substitute.
“But the potential is undeniable, and this year’s Libertadores is an excellent opportunity to cast an eye on the development of a fascinating talent.”
