Arsenal fans should not be getting overly excited about the prospect of their side signing Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich on a free transfer this summer, Gunners expert Charles Watts has warned.
Mikel Arteta's side are believed to have held discussions over a deal for the 30-year-old, who as things stand will be leaving the Allianz Arena when his deal expires at the end of the campaign.
Arsenal reportedly view Kimmich as the perfect replacement for Jorginho, who is also set to move on at the end of his contract this summer and is expected to make the move to Flamengo.
A former Gunners striker recently told Sports Mole that Kimmich's prospective arrival was "a no-brainer", but Watts does not agree with that assessment, even though the Germany international possesses the versatility that Arteta "loves".
"I don't think it would be as simple as a no-brainer," Watts told Sports Mole. "I think you would definitely have to put some thought into it because yes, he'd be a free transfer, but the wages would be very, very big.
"Judging by what he hasn't been able to agree with Bayern Munich, you look at the numbers that are being banded around there, it would be an expensive addition, despite the fact you're not paying the transfer fee.
Watts delivers verdict on "big moments" Kimmich amid Arsenal links
"The fact you're not paying the transfer fee, you take that into account. And so you can understand giving slightly higher wages. But he's a very, very good player. The age doesn't overly bother me. Arsenal are a young team, they need experience.
"I think Jorginho has been a fantastic signing. Even though it's coming to the end of his time at Arsenal now, he's been excellent on the pitch and excellent off the pitch. Kimmich would be more of the same, and he's probably got more to offer coming here now than Jorginho did when he arrived from Chelsea. He's versatile, Arteta loves that. He's a big moments player as well. Arsenal found that out to their cost last season in the Champions League quarter-final when he scored the winner in Munich.
"Jorginho and Partey are going to go as I think we all expect they probably will do in the summer, then additions are needed. Martin Zubimendi is very much on Arsenal's radar, and they're hoping to get something done with him once the season comes to an end. But they're also going to need to replace Jorginho, and Kimmich would be a very, very good addition when it comes to that."
Kimmich is also thought to have been courted by the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United, and the former Stuttgart man recently broke his silence regarding his future with the German giants.
The 30-year-old stressed that the ball was in Bayern's court regarding a renewal, and that other clubs would have an impact on his decision, which he anticipates making before the March international break.
Bayern allegedly withdrew a three-year contract offer due to Kimmich's supposed hesitation, and the German will now only be offered a renewal on the same terms or on a lower wage than what he currently pockets in Munich.
Kimmich "most likely" to sign new Bayern contract
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However, as Bayern successfully managed to renegotiate deals with Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala amid intense transfer speculation, Watts expects Kimmich to ultimately sign on the dotted line at the Allianz Arena when asked if there could be a battle brewing between him and Martin Zubimendi for starts at Arsenal.
"I still feel like the most likely option with Kimmich is he ends up signing a new contract with Bayern Munich," he added. "Alphonso Davies, everyone thought he was going to Real Madrid, it looked nailed on, but he ends up signing with Bayern Munich. We've seen this countless times before, especially with Bayern Munich players when they're in contract negotiations.
"Get your crystal ball and they both do sign, then there will be a battle there. But Kimmich can play further up the pitch. One of the strengths of signing Joshua Kimmich is he's not just coming into play as number six. You can play him in different positions across the pitch.
"It would be a battle with Zubimendi, it would allow you to rotate, which is crucial. We have moved away from the time of having an out-and-out best 11, one of Arsenal's big issues this season is they haven't had the squad that's been able to cope with multiple injuries. If you lose Partey and Jorginho, you've got to replace them with two experienced players. Zubimendi and Kimmich should be exactly that."
As Kimmich's future remains clouded in uncertainty, Arsenal are understood to have moved to the head of the queue for £51m-rated Real Sociedad midfielder Zubimendi, who would arrive as a direct replacement for Thomas Partey.
Despite exorcising his previous injury demons and proving his worth to Arteta in the past three seasons especially, the Ghana international is also out of contract this summer and is reportedly more likely to leave than stay.
Is there a case for a new Partey contract?
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Even though Partey is now in his 30s, Watts has already reported that there is interest in him from European giants Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, and he believes that a departure would be the best outcome for all parties.
"I wouldn't be surprised at all if he left," Watts said. "He's one of Arsenal's biggest earners. It's been good to see him stay injury free this season, but the doubt is always there about whether he will maintain that fitness. There's still a couple of months left of the season, so we'll see if he does, but it's been probably his best season in an Arsenal shirt.
"He's been very, very consistent and the performances have been good. But he's coming to the end of his contract, he's 31 years old. If you're going to give him another contract now, you're talking two, three years. It just feels like that's too big a risk.
"When someone gets past Thomas Partey, he doesn't really get back to them. Those days chasing back are gone. Once he's beaten, he's beaten. It makes sense from an Arsenal point of view, given the size of his contract, for him to go this summer.
"My understanding is that they have not initiated any sort of contract talks with him yet. And the player's camp they're believing that Arsenal probably aren't going to push to keep him. There is lots of interest in him from big, big European clubs, and he'll be able to get himself a very good move where you would think they'd be offering him a much bigger, longer contract than Arsenal.
"It'd be a short-term type thing on a reduced wage. And I imagine elsewhere he'll get much more lucrative and long term deals. So it just makes sense for all parties now to move on at the end of season to refresh the midfield, which is what Arsenal are planning to do."
What other midfield issues must Arsenal address?
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While Partey and Jorginho will both need replacing at the end of the season, a new creative midfielder should also be on Arsenal's agenda according to Watts, as Martin Odegaard has been below his best at times this season.
The Norway international did put in a man-of-the-match display in Tuesday's 7-1 Champions League crushing of PSV Eindhoven, registering two goals and one assist, but he has just one strike and one helper from his last 13 Premier League matches.
As Ethan Nwaneri is currently making a name for himself on the right-hand side of the attack, a proper Odegaard backup must also be sought this summer in order to ease the pressure on the Norwegian.
"I would like to see Arsenal add another attacking midfield option as well," Watts concluded. "Zubimendi, Kimmich, fantastic experienced players, top level international players. But I think they do need another attacking option in that midfield trio as well to take the burden off Odegaard.
"Yes, you've got Nwaneri, but it would be nice to have another maybe left sided central option, a more attacking one if you need to change things."
Odegaard and Arsenal will endeavour to keep the attacking momentum going in Sunday's Premier League blockbuster with Manchester United, but they could be 16 points behind Liverpool at the top of the table by the time they kick off at Old Trafford.
Ben Knapton
