Arsenal now want to sign £80m Spurs fan who could be Rice 2.0

Arsenal are in the mood to spend big again this summer and what a position they are in to do so.

After winning the Premier League for the first time in over two decades and reaching a Champions League final, their standing in world football has arguably never been as great.

Mikel Arteta is building something special in north London and plenty want to be a part of it. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers has reportedly already told the Villans he would like to explore a move to the Emirates Stadium while if the Gunners come calling for Sandro Tonali, he is allegedly set to choose them over Tottenham Hotspur.

It’s also been revealed that if his dream move to Barcelona falls through, Julian Alvarez would be keen on moving to Arsenal.

So, as is customary with Andrea Berta, he will look to agree personal terms with all three before potentially pressing the button on a club-to-club agreement.

That said, what’s the latest on potential incomings?

Arsenal ‘really’ want to sign £80m midfielder

While the priority for Arsenal this summer will be to strengthen in attack, with Rogers, Alvarez and indeed PSG’s Bradley Barcola on their shortlist, the midfield is also being looked at.

So far during this window, the Gunners have looked at Mateus Fernandes of West Ham but now seem content to see him head to either Tottenham or Manchester United.

Tonali at Newcastle is also an option while Lille wonderkid and Morocco sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi has been a player at the centre of talks even before the World Cup got underway.

With Bouaddi, they are unlikely to be priced out of a move given he has a £60m price tag but Tonali’s asking price has soared to as high as £100m.

Perhaps they could find some middle ground with Alex Scott. The Bournemouth star enjoyed a fabulous 2025/26 campaign and has caught the eye of some of the elite as a result. Valued at £80m, this would not be an easy deal to conclude.

Speaking on the Athletic’s football podcast this week, a certain David Ornstein said as much.

Revealing the latest on Scott’s future, he commented: “Scott is a brilliant player and it is no surprise clubs are looking at him. Arsenal really like him. Manchester United do as well. He will have a host of suitors if it was possible to get him. If being the key word here. Bournemouth have no intention of selling him. Even if it was an astronomical offer, they are adamant he is staying put for the first season of Marco Rose.”

Ornstein concluded: “An interesting element is that his contract is starting to wind down. I’m sure they would like to renew but if there is a possibility of a move I’m not sure he [Scott] would be in favour of extending. He is being discussed at Arsenal and Manchester United and I’m sure elsewhere.”

An extra layer of intrigue to this one is that Scott is supposedly a Tottenham fan.

Why Alex Scott could be Arsenal’s new Declan Rice

When Declan Rice signed in a £105m deal from West Ham back in 2023, it sent shockwaves across the Premier League.

Never before had the Gunners spent over £100m on a player but here they were, beating Manchester City to the punch to sign one of the division’s best midfielders. Discussing Arsenal’s rise to greatness a few weeks ago, Josh Kroenke described Rice’s arrival as a “big moment” in the project and it’s hard to disagree with that.

While Scott would not be on the same level as that transfer, there are certain parallels here. Like Rice before he headed to the Emirates, Scott has emerged as one of the best young midfield talents in the Premier League. Like Rice, he has also risen to prominence at a side outside of your typical big six teams.

His career has been incredibly interesting too. Guernsey-born, the midfield cut his teeth at Bristol City in the Championship before his big move to the south coast. Since then, he’s only gone from strength to strength.

As when Rice made the move to Arsenal, they could sign another Premier League proven player here with the world at his feet.

While the 22-year-old did not make Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad, he was part of the pre-tournament camp that headed out to America. He could and perhaps should have earned an official senior England debut in one of those two games against New Zealand and Costa Rica but remained on the bench.

Scott’s time will no doubt come. After all, this is one of the finest young players in England right now. He scored four goals last term, including a brilliantly taken strike away at Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta has already seen firsthand the danger he can cause and with his array of qualities, he could play a similar role to Rice in the number 8 position.

One of the Bournemouth star’s biggest strengths is his defensive ability. The amount of work he gets through each game is remarkable. He made 12.18 defensive contributions per 90 last term, enough to rank him among the top 16% of positionally similar players in the Premier League.

For comparison, Rice completed 10.95. When it comes to sweeping up play and recovering possession, they are two of the best in the country. Scott made 6.14 ball recoveries to Rice’s 5.32.

When it comes to the way they carry the ball forward, they are also particularly alike. While the Cherries superstar made 0.44 carries per 90 from deep positions, Arsenal’s number 41 made 0.29. As for progressive carries,

a carry that is moved towards the opponent’s goal at least ten yards, Rice made 2.06 in 2025/26 to Scott’s 1.54.

What Arsenal missed last term was a natural replacement for the England international if he was low on fitness or struggling. Scott would not be a likeminded replacement as a holding midfielder but as a no.8, he would be a cracking alternative with his carrying and ball recovery skills.