With the inevitable injury crisis growing with every match, Arsene Wenger will have an eye or two on a few players that can be bought during the January transfer window, with the Arsenal manager reportedly eyeing FC Porto's outstanding midfielder Ruben Neves.
Arsenal's injury situation is quite scary at the moment, with virtually an entire team out of action. The Gunners had Laurent Koscielny, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez suffering injuries in the 1-1 draw against Norwich City, and while the first two are not expected to be serious, Wenger will have to do without the Chilean for a few weeks, at least.
While Arsenal cannot do much in terms of bringing players in until January, Wenger will already be making his plans, and one of those is a £22 million bid for Neves, who has been garnering attention and plaudits for his performances in a Porto shirt.
While Francis Coquelin has been outstanding for Arsenal, Wenger does need cover and competition in that position, as the injury to the Frenchman showed.
Neves, at 18, is a player with an old head on young shoulders – he became the youngest player to ever captain a team in the Champions League recently -- and is already quite outstanding in the defensive midfield position.
Arsenal have had Neves watched by scouts quite a few times this season, and Wenger is willing to pay as much as £12m up front, with the fee potentially rising by a further £10m will add-ons, according to The Sun.
There is little doubt that Arsenal need more cover in the defensive midfield position, even with a youngster in Krystian Bielik expected to challenge for that position soon.
Neves is the kind of prospect that does not come along too often, and with several other big clubs in Europe also keeping a close eye, Arsenal will do well to make a quick move for the teenager, even if convincing Porto to sell in January, when they look set for the Champions League knockout rounds, will be quite difficult.
