Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Jamie Vardy and Henrikh Mkhitaryan Rumours

Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy will reportedly have a medical at Arsenal on Sunday before completing his transfer to the club.

That’s according to Peter O’Rourke of ESPN FC, who has stated that “a source close to the club” has revealed the deal is edging closer to completion. It’s noted the Gunners triggered a release clause in the striker’s contract with Leicester earlier this week and are keen to get a transfer done before the 2016 UEFA European Championship.

O’Rourke added that the sum Arsenal will pay for the 29-year-old is £22 million, while a big-money contract will be on offer to convince him to leave the King Power Stadium.

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It’ll be a fascinating deal if it goes through, especially given Arsenal’s issues at the point of the attack. The forward was a menace in the final third last season as he helped the Foxes to a surprise Premier League triumph, per OptaJoe:

The move also has plenty expressing concerns about a deal. After all, Vardy is a player who has been so effective due to Leicester’s willingness to play a direct style of football, seeking to get the ball into the channels quickly for him to exploit defenders one-on-one. It’s not a style Arsenal have utilised frequently under Arsene Wenger.

Indeed, the Gunners are precise in their build-up play and that’s a blueprint that requires a high standard of technical ability. Vardy has many strengths, but his work with his back to goal is not particularly refined.

Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe summed up what he thinks are the positive and negative factors to this potential move:

What the transfer may do is show there is a willingness from Wenger to change his ways slightly. After all, moving in the transfer window so quickly has not bee standard procedure during his prolonged tenure at the club, while a player like Granit Xhaka has been needed for a long time but not bought. Perhaps a switch has flicked with the manager.

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Arsenal would be getting a player that’s bristling with confidence, has a nasty edge and would give them a different way of playing. For that, Vardy is a gamble the club will feel is well worth the risk.

Gunners Leading Henrikh Mkhitaryan Race

According to Mike McGrath of the Sun on Sunday, Arsenal have moved ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign Borussia Dortmund playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

That’s because the Emirates Stadium is said to be the player’s “preferred destination” over Stamford Bridge. Mkhitaryan is reportedly available for around £20 million this summer, with his contract at the Westfalenstadion set to expire at the end of next season.

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This season was one to remember for the Armenia international after he bagged 11 goals and 15 assists in the Bundesliga. Here is a reminder of some of his best moments:

It’d be a significant coup for Arsenal if they were able to get this deal done. Mkhitaryan could potentially pose a solution to which player Wenger plays on the right of the trio of attackers behind the centre-forward, with Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all trialled there with inconsistent results.

Mkhitaryan has featured in that position frequently for BVB, and, as we can see courtesy of WhoScored.com, he’s a major creative force:

After Xhaka’s capture, if Vardy and Mkhitaryan follow, Arsenal fans will have every right to start getting excited about next season. The latter of the trio mentioned may be a luxury purchase given the Gunners’ options in attacking midfield, but he’d bring something refreshing to this area of the field.

Mkhitaryan will feel as though Arsenal are a team that are well suited to his qualities, and it’s easy to see him thriving. The prospect of him linking up with the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil between the lines is a tantalising one for Arsenal supporters.