Arsenal could look to secure a major swap deal with Napoli, which would grab headlines in the winter window
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Premier League leaders Arsenal head into this weekend's North London Derby with Tottenham Hotspur knowing that victory would put them 11 points clear of their arch-rivals and maintain the Gunners’ strong early lead at the top of the table.
With Christmas fast approaching, Mikel Arteta will be fully aware of how crucial the next run of matches is for his side.
Not only do they face some of their toughest opponents yet across matches domestically and in Europe, but they may have to do it without some of their most important players – most notably Gabriel, who the Spaniard has confirmed is out for a number of “weeks” with a thigh injury sustained on international duty with Brazil.
The January transfer window is on the horizon and though Arteta will not be able to replace the influence of Gabriel, another key target has emerged amidst competition from the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United.
Arsenal could secure Napoli swap deal for Scott McTominay
Arsenal have been linked with a blockbuster move for Scott McTominay in recent days, as the Scotsman’s outstanding spell with Napoli continues.
The former Man United midfielder signed for the Serie A giants last summer for £25m but has seen his profile rise exponentially since then. The 28-year-old has won the Scudetto, the Serie A MVP and even earned a Ballon d’Or nomination during the last six months alone.
If the influential midfielder had not received enough praise already, he has now become somewhat of a national hero after his bicycle kick sent Scotland on the way to their first World Cup in 27 years on Tuesday night. While such an honour will no doubt have been bestowed upon Steve Clarke’s side to a man, the impact of McTominay and his stunning goal on the night will not be forgotten.
It is, therefore, not surprising that Arsenal and some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs are intent on bringing McTominay back to England. Napoli are reported to be demanding a fee of €70m (£61m) for their star man, but the Gunners could have a trump card to play in negotiations.
McTominay and Mikel Merino swap deal could be stunning answer
Arsenal have a wealth of attacking options at the disposal of Arteta and if McTominay were to join his talented squad at the Emirates, the Gunners could offer Napoli Mikel Merino in return as part of a deal for the Scotsman.
Merino has been a reliable member of Arteta’s squad since the Spaniard signed for £31.6m from Real Sociedad in 2024, scoring 12 goals for the club and being utilised in a range of different positions. But the 29-year-old could see his game-time limited if McTominay were to arrive in north London.
One of Merino’s main strengths for Arsenal has been his ability to arrive in the box and score important goals when needed, often starting in a makeshift striker role when Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz have been absent. He has become so good at the role that he even began playing in a similar position for Spain at times during their World Cup qualifying campaign.
McTominay possesses many of the same qualities as Merino, potentially to an even higher standard at present, and could be viewed as an upgrade to carry out the very same utility role as the Spaniard. It would, therefore, make a lot of sense to include the former Newcastle United man as part of a deal for the Scotsman, particularly in a World Cup year with Merino hoping to play a key role for the reigning European champions.
Napoli may well demand a player-plus-cash deal if Arsenal were to offer Merino as part of a transfer for McTominay, in a move which could work out in the best interests of all parties.