Arsenal Prepared for Summer Midfielder Battle

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Arsenal are readying themselves for a summer of interest and speculation over the future of Wales international Aaron Ramsey reports the Daily Mirror.

The 27-year-old’s contract expires in 2019 and the situation hasn’t gone unnoticed among Europe’s top clubs. With the Gunners further than ever away from qualifying for the Champions League, Arsenal know the midfielder is on the shopping list of the elite.

Latest among them is Juventus. While the Bianconeri remain focused on Liverpool midfielder Emre Can, 25, talks have stalled with the Germany international refusing to discuss his future until the season is over.

It’s left the soon-to-be-crowned Serie A champions needing a Plan B; Ramsey with nine goals and 19 assists in all competitions this season offers a genuinely different solution to their midfield aspirations.

Arsenal are currently in talks with his representatives and remain convinced Ramsey will prolong his stay at the Emirates. However, his value is likely to drop after this summer so a ‘sign or be sold’ situation is emerging.

The Gunners held onto Alexis Sanchez, 30, in similar circumstances and ended up losing around £30m in cash when he moved to Old Trafford in a swap deal which saw 29-year-old Henrikh Mkhitaryan go to north London.

Arsenal prefer Ramsey to sign a new deal but face an uphill struggle to convince him to accept a deal worth less than the £200,000 per week Mkhitaryan and the other winter signing, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 29, earn.