Arsenal are reportedly monitoring the progress of highly-rated midfielder Jakub Jankto, who is currently in the ranks of Serie A club Udinese.
The 21-year-old has been identified as a potential companion for Granit Xhaka in midfield with Francis Coquelin and Aaron Ramsey failing to live up to their recent promise, while Mohamed Elneny has remained an outsider for the starting lineup.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has recently switched to a new 4-3-3 formation at the club, and this has paid dividends with Xhaka forming an impressive bond alongside Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who appears to have also got the nod for the England national side.
Nevertheless, the north London club are looking to add an additional recruit who could protect the backline with Jankto on their shortlist ahead of the summer transfer window.
The FA Cup semi-finalists appear to be keeping tabs on some of Czech Republic’s upcoming talents with Sampdoria’s Patrik Schick being recently associated with the club before his representative rubbished the speculation.
Jankto, 21, has recently cited that he is ‘curious’ and it would not be long before he decides to leave Udinese for a club outside of the Italian domestic competition.
“I want to play abroad, to try some new experience. I’m curious, I want to know other things,” Jankto is quoted as saying on Tuttomercatoweb, via TalkSPORT. “I certainly do not see myself in Italy too long, certainly not up to 25 years.”
The young midfielder joined the Serie A outfit from hometown club Slavia Prague in the summer of 2014 and had spent the previous campaign on loan with second division club Ascoli. He has since made his breakthrough with Udinese earning 22 appearances to date.
Apart from the Gunners, Premier League regulars West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City are also keeping a watch on the midfield anchorman as they look to shore up their midfield options during the off-season.
Arsenal host Manchester City in their Premier League fixture at the Emirates on Sunday, and nothing less than a win will do if they are to maintain their chances of attaining a top-four finish to the league campaign.
