JazzG I agree we need two players, and you're right we'll need a bit of flexibility in the market.
But I think a more ideal set of profiles would be something like Zubimendi and Bruno – the former a classic Spanish 6, taking the lead in early phases of possession, and just fast/strong enough to handle 'DM' responsibilities in the Prem (not unlike Arteta himself as a player here, before he got too old), and the latter very much an 8, an all-rounder who is physically robust but also comfortable being a creative force in our attacking play. That would give us a 6, a 6/8 in Rice, an 8, and an 8/10 in Ødegaard, and that's a proper and versatile midfield.
But it doesn't look like there are any obvious and easy solutions in the market right now, so maybe we'll have to be resourceful. Still, I don't like the idea of buying a very similar (and not necessarily outstanding) player for £50m and putting him on big wages.
