There are enough rumours to start a Dominik Szoboszlai thread. It's us, PSG and Milan (who are also linked with Red Bull DoF Ragnick). 
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1301033/Arsenal-Transfer-News-Dominik-Szoboszlai-Gossip-Latest 

https://i2.wp.com/www.news1.news/n1/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/e235a8a02f06d9bada6e22eb52575d3a-64391-2949380efa673bd8c4523694a3f5f4dd.jpeg?resize=570%2C320&ssl=1[/img]
Skills
He's a 19 year old AM who plays in the 10 behind 2 strikers or on the left of a 442. Since the departures of Minamino and Håland, he seems to have been more central. He's a stats god: 7 goals and 12 assists, many in the age of Corona.

RBS employ Ragnick's counterattacking philosophy and are so much better than their opponents, so Szoboszlai is very high up the field. He's operates in front of the opposition D and has multiple weapons. Great close control, able to use his strength to drive past people, and distributes out to wings to stretch defenses - basically the toolkit we are most missing. A great example of all his abilities together is this fantastic goal: 

He's also great at crossing and is the primary dead ball specialist. Recently against Rapid Vienna he had 3 assists off corners - 2 headers off whipped balls, and a volley. He also hit a great free kick recently vs Sturm Graz. 

Why we might want him - technical, physical Ozil replacement. He can be deployed in the 433 either as a lone 10 or the left hand side of the V next to Willock ahead of the DM. 

Why we might pass - might take some time to adapt from bullying Austrian butchers. He was quiet against Liverpool when Minamino and Håland shone. He might also not immediately be ideal if you want to primarily play a 343 using him as a 2-way midfielder or LWB

Would be a great buy.

Sorting out the midfield has to be the priority this summer.

I've only seen him once or twice in Champions League, so nothing to go on really, but I'm not convinced this bloke would be a good signing at this moment. Think it's the wrong time to sign him, with all the players we already have pushing up from youth level. What we need is readymade players who can come in and pull the heavy load. We could still make an exception for someone who's truly exceptional, but do people reckon Szoboszlai is any more ready for Premier League football than, for instance, Smith-Rowe? Maybe signing him and then loaning him out would be the best option, but can we afford to do another Saliba next season when money will be even tighter?

Klaus wrote:

I've only seen him once or twice in Champions League, so nothing to go on really, but I'm not convinced this bloke would be a good signing at this moment. Think it's the wrong time to sign him, with all the players we already have pushing up from youth level. What we need is readymade players who can come in and pull the heavy load. We could still make an exception for someone who's truly exceptional, but do people reckon Szoboszlai is any more ready for Premier League football than, for instance, Smith-Rowe? Maybe signing him and then loaning him out would be the best option, but can we afford to do another Saliba next season when money will be even tighter?

You’re right that we can’t carry two many youngsters but he’d come in and have a Martinelli level impact. His mix of attributes is hard to replicate.

The key for Arsenal is we need to decide our core playing philosophies and formations, and then select future players. I suspect this is why Arteta is cycling through so many systems, testing adaptability. Telling that Guendouzi often misses the cut though. We do not want to buy/keep players that do not fit the default system regardless of quality.

Klaus wrote:

I've only seen him once or twice in Champions League, so nothing to go on really, but I'm not convinced this bloke would be a good signing at this moment. Think it's the wrong time to sign him, with all the players we already have pushing up from youth level. What we need is readymade players who can come in and pull the heavy load. We could still make an exception for someone who's truly exceptional, but do people reckon Szoboszlai is any more ready for Premier League football than, for instance, Smith-Rowe? Maybe signing him and then loaning him out would be the best option, but can we afford to do another Saliba next season when money will be even tighter?

You're right. But i'm also so desperate for some flair from midfield that I shamefully hope we spunk wads of cash in their face to get this done.

Good informative opening post, Claud.

When we were seriously linked with this kid last summer, I watched a bit of him and whatever there was on Youtube. I fell in love with his potential.

He can do nearly everything you could want from an attacker. At the same time, I do see where Klaus is coming from, the Premier League will hit him like a ton of bricks at first because of the type of silky, ball playing, risk taking player he is. It will take some time for him to adapt, for sure, and it's a question whether we have the money to pay for that adaption and sort the rest of the problems out. He's also so talented that I think it's going to take a while to figure out exactly what sort of player he is going to become. As far as I know, he has played as a tempo setting '6' for Hungary youth sides, as well as (as Claud points out) a '10' and a Piresesque inverted wide player also for Hungary and in his club football.

He's just so so talented, he could probably mould what he has to become elite in any of those positions. His ball striking technique is just as good as it gets, and his set piece delivery is truly world class already.

He also is becoming a leader for the Hungary national team already. Scored a great free kick in a qualifier for them last autumn:

[Video=youtube]

He also has a real penchant for coming up big in the big moments, one of the best things I saw on Youtube was the heroics he performed for Hungary U17s to get them to the European Championships:

I couldn't pass the opportunity up to sign him if it's there. He's just too exciting a talent to refuse.

How do you think he’d link with Cedric Tricks?

I think really well

It's the link up with Sokratis that really excites me.

Recent upload I came across with stuff from his season at Salzburg:

[php][/php]

Ricky1985 wrote:

Recent upload with stuff from his season at Salzburg:

[Video=youtube]

Thanks for the package, Ricky. My favorite highlight is actually on exactly 5 minutes. It’s late in the first half against Rapid Vienna. He gets a cross. Firm chest like Ibra and when it bounces back up to chest height he swivels and volleys it in with authority. Just gorgeous.

I think Arteta will want to build his attack around more versatile players like him, Saka and Aubameyang. Players who will pass, move, score.

He's one of those signings where if you just got him and dumped him into the current midfield and did nothing else, it would be pointless. We need more fundamental changes in midfield, then someone like szob can be the finishing touch. If we have a chance we should get him in though. Ceballos and potentially guendo could be on the way out, and and szob is the right profile id like to see replace them.

You have to sign this guy with Partey. If a 3-man midfield is the way forward (and I think it is) then Xhaka, Partey, Willock, and Szoboszlai is a pretty compelling set of options. Throw Saka and Guendouzi in the mix and Arteta can make pretty much anything he wants. It's not ready-made by any means, but it's an infinitely moldable, mixable, and matchable set of attributes that could make us very unpredictable and very dangerous to just about any team.

Partey, Torreira, Szoboszlai would make a good balanced midfield three

Looks like he’d be able to impose his game. Something Ceballos really struggles with

If we can get a small group of world class talents in together they might believe in each other long enough to hang around.

Claudius wrote:

I think Arteta will want to build his attack around more versatile players like him, Saka and Aubameyang. Players who will pass, move, score.

In the end, he'll have to make do with building it on Cedric, David Luiz and Özil.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Looks like he’d be able to impose his game. Something Ceballos really struggles with

Definitely. And it would be good to have another cultured set piece taker on the team. We can’t have a 70th minute foul and moan “pity Pépé’s just gone off!”

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Looks like he’d be able to impose his game. Something Ceballos really struggles with


If you watch Ceballos highlights you will think differently too.

I am with Klaus for this. He is no doubt exciting but I think of him actually as a CM more than an AM. Not an outright number 10, more like part of a midfield trio, Bruno Fernandes esque. I would be excited about signing him especially for the price mentioned but I doubt we have the money to buy him AND what we need.

Most the team dont want to be here so we could have a decent few quid coming in.

Auba, laca, Douzi, sok, saka, mustafi, torreria, Chambers said after his last loan he'd leave if hes not a starter.

Let’s take a temperature check in the summer. Arteta could help stabilize things. If he can’t add a good vibe to the group then we need Jesus to come back.

Claudius wrote:

Let’s take a temperature check in the summer. Arteta could help stabilize things. If he can’t add a good vibe to the group then we need Jesus to come back.

Hopefully I'd assume xhaka will be considering a move rather than more years of abuse. 

where are these rumours coming from? I've not seen any outside the compilation vids.

Mid tier french journo said milan and arsenal were in talks for him. That's the only independent link I've seen

banduan wrote:

where are these rumours coming from? I've not seen any outside the compilation vids.

This is what I found that link us with him. - shit links only.

ARSENAL are reportedly in advanced negotiations over a deal to bring Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai to the Emirates.
The 19-year-old is understood to be a long-term target of the Gunners, with the club said to be interested in signing him last summer.(Sun Sport)

Arsenal and PSG are interested in Dominik Szoboszlai . The Hungarian remains a target of Milan, but competition for his signature is clearly increasing. [calcio mercato]

@Manulonjon - goal ( great for french link, don't know about this.)
Arsenal and Milan are well advanced in the negotiation to sign RB Salzburg’s gem, Dominik Szoboszlai.

Get french football.
https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2020/psg-have-enquired-for-dominik-szoboszlai-ac-milan-arsenal-also-in-for-him/

His agent said this:

Matyas Esterhazy (The agent of Dominik Szoboszlai):

“I can confirm a number of the top Premier League clubs are interested in Dominik but at this point I can not confirm or deny specific clubs.”

But to be honest, today all the news from Italy and Austria are that it's done, he will sign for Milan.

Manu was on point for Pépé and Saliba. He was wrong for other stuff like our interest in Benatia (or maybe we did bid). So let’s see.

Our club is in a pretty bad state, but almost every player would still prefer us to Milan. Not sure about the Ragnick connection either, why would you choose a club because of a sporting director? He won't have much impact on Szobo's everyday life.

I don't buy the Ragnick connection either. He's being linked to every player in the Red Bull stable anyway.

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

Our club is in a pretty bad state, but almost every player would still prefer us to Milan.

I'm not so sure that's the case, especially in Eastern Europe where Italian football has always been very popular.

Dimarzio says napoli are meeting his agents as well. Seems most noise is coming out of italy

a month later

No news. Just interesting stats.

[Twitter]

The kid looks really good on video. From his stats, trying to discern how much of where he shines is due to RB being such a high territory team with a large volume of chances that put him in favorable positions. He dribbles well, does like to get in the box. That’s consistent with what I’ve seen. Can step up his passing though, which is critical because one of our weaknesses is simple balls into the box to forwards.

But I would imagine Arteta would like his physical package and positional fluidity which seems to be a big feature of how he’s using Tierney, AMN, Pépé. Szobo can play at 7, 8, and 10.

If Arteta is under pressure to deliver top 4 under budget constraints, maybe not the guy. If he has time to build a title team under less constraint, a good punt.

a month later

Depending on who comes in this window, we might still be able to get him next year. He has that midfield dynamo quality about him

Don't think anyone is seriously linked to Szoboszlai at this point. Milan's interest seemingly died once Rangnick didn't come.

If there's a time for us to remember who he is, now's the time to snap him for a cheap price. If he was a different nationality, the hype would be much more insane for him.

Exactly. I wish we'd get him this summer - rather him than Aouar for that advanced MF position to be honest.

He’s not as developed as Aouar. Just look for Salzburg games. There are some he drifts out of games, especially the earlier ones where he had Minamino / Haaland. He also has a habit of committing turnovers either by taking on folks or sometimes being adventurous with passes. Again, these things can be coached out. I think the issue we have with players like him and Camavinga is that our midfield is in such dire straits, our main purchase needs to be somebody who definitely accelerates the whole team, not a kid who is 2 years away. If we have money for 2, then it makes sense, but if we have money for one, then you have to take a more established name

Bryant wrote:

Don't think anyone is seriously linked to Szoboszlai at this point. Milan's interest seemingly died once Rangnick didn't come.

If there's a time for us to remember who he is, now's the time to snap him for a cheap price. If he was a different nationality, the hype would be much more insane for him.

What does this mean?

BWoolley wrote:

Exactly. I wish we'd get him this summer - rather him than Aouar for that advanced MF position to be honest.

He's already said he's not leaving this summer