Arsenal consider transfer for PSG star and ex-Liverpool target

Suraj Radia

• Updated: 1 Dec 2022 17:41 GMT
• 2 min read

Arsenal are considering dipping into the transfer market for a midfielder in January, with the Gunners are reportedly eyeing up potential targets at the World Cup.

One of those players is believed to be Carlos Soler, with the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder having made just four starts in Ligue 1 this season and PSG could make a quick profit on the ex-Valencia man, having signed him for just €18 million.

Arsenal were rumoured to be interested in Soler back in 2020, while Liverpool were also believed to be scouting the 25-year-old prior to his move to Paris

Soler is currently with the Spain squad in Qatar and has scored in his only appearance so far, coming off the bench to net in the 7-0 win over Costa Rica.

Mikel Arteta’s side are looking to provide competition for Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey, with Albert Sambi Lokonga unconvincing so far and Mohamed Eleneny – out of contract in the summer – still recovering from a long-term injury.

Arsenal are also looking to close a deal for Shakhtar forward Mykhaylo Mudryk and, although a quiet January was expected for the Gunners, they may look to splash the cash in order to build on their Premier League title push.

Soler touted as Cazorla successor

A deep-lying playmaker with an eye for goal, Soler has often been compared to former Arsenal favourite Santi Cazorla and would offer the English side a more creative alternative to Xhaka and Partey.

Soler captained Valencia before his departure and made 226 appearances in all competitions for the Spaniards, scoring 26 goals.

However, Soler played down comparisons with the likes of Cazorla, David Silva and Juan Mata when asked about their skillset in the Premier League.

“You’re putting me alongside Cazorla or Juan and David? Nah,” Soler told The Guardian in April. Look, it’s a compliment. They’re players with that ‘pause’ that maybe the Premier League didn’t have.

“It’s all so mad, so physical, that if you can adapt to the intensity and then make the right decision, find the right space, that gives you something.

“Football is ever more physical but the player that ‘arrives’, that filters the final pass can adapt well: like Pablo Fornals, say.”