Emirates Stadium side keen on strong young midfielder.
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Arsene Wenger is preparing the ground for a summer move for PSV Eindhoven young Kevin Strootman as he looks to bring in a strong midfield presence to help add balance to a side that lacks steel to complement their undoubted creative talent.
The Arsenal boss has been scouting the 23 year old Dutch international for a number of months and will hope to beat the likes of Bayern Munich and Man United in the chase to sign the rangy midfielder when the transfer window re-opens.
Strootman has impressed greatly since his move to the Philips Stadion from FC Utrecht and is now a regular in the Dutch national team set-up.
As well as being able to get stuck in and do the midfield ‘dirty work’ the powerful PSV man also has an eye for goal, managing 13 goals in 76 appearances over the past 18 months.
Strootman’s form has helped Dick Advocaat’s side to the top of the Eredivisie table and with a good chance of securing PSV’s first domestic title in five seasons.
Advocaat knows it would be hard to prevent Strootman’s head being turned by interest from Europe’s ‘Elite’ and may struggle to keep hold of the talented youngster this summer.
Without a strong tackling presence in the Arsenal midfield the North London club have developed a ‘soft centre’ that the opposition have all too easily penetrated this season, an issue that has been borne out of the fact that the club have not replaced Alex Song, who left for Barcelona last summer.
Strootman may well be the ideal man for the job, a player who can drive the play forwards whilst also being able to repel the opposition, leaving time and space for the likes of Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and Mikel Arteta whilst also offering protection for the creative talents.