Arsenal have reportedly raced Tottenham to land Nice midfielder Jean-Michael Seri and will line up a bid for the same
According to a report by L’Equipe, Nice midfielder Jean-Michael Seri is likely to move to Arsenal this summer as the Gunners are believed to be front-runners in securing a deal.
The Ivory Coast international spiraled to fame after becoming a key figure for Nice. Seri was one of the stars of Ligue 1 last season as his side secured Champions League qualification for the first time while he bagged seven goals and nine assists.
A proven quality midfielder, Seri was a regular player for Nice as he made 39 appearances across all competitions. It comes as no surprise that so many clubs are keen on landing a deal for him after his triumphs for the Ligue 1 side – two of those teams being Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for Seri for a while now. The Gunners failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, thus forcing Wenger to rebuild his squad this summer to ensure at least a top-four finish in the upcoming campaign.
The midfield area has been a problem for Wenger since it is one area that he needs to strengthen owing to shocking inconsistency from the likes of Mohamed Elneny, Francis Coquelin and Aaron Ramsey. To make matters worse, Jack Wilshere’s future at the Emirates is uncertain while Santi Cazorla has been troubled by injuries.
Considering the situation, Seri could be a possible partner for Granit Xhaka at the heart of Arsenal’s midfield next season. Previously Arsenal were facing stiff competition from Tottenham for Seri’s signature but they are believed to be the front-runners at this stage, which can majorly boost their chances.
Tottenham, on the other hand, are not having a good transfer window. Manager Mauricio Pochettino has failed to make any additions to his first team so far. Spurs have been falling short of winning the Premier League for two seasons now, and to change that, Pochettino needs reinforcements.
Arguably, midfield is one of Tottenham’s strong areas but the club are believed to be seeking a move for Seri this summer. The interest could probably be due to the fact that Eric Dier has been dropping back into a back-three whenever Pochettino shuffles his systems.
That leaves the Spurs boss with Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele as his only options. Signing Seri will be a good option for Pochettino but he will need to increase his efforts in landing the Ivory Coast international.
