Arsenal already know who their next £73m midfield maestro could be

It was Meat Loaf who famously said, 'Two out of three ain't bad'. And to be fair, he wasn't wrong. But do you know what's even better? Three out of three. That's just basic maths.

This summer, Arsenal made quite the splash when they took a hammer to the piggy bank and signed Declan Rice. (They also spent big on Kai Havertz, of course, but given that he has thus far boasted the presence of the ghost of a sickly Victorian child in an attic, we'll leave him to one side for now.)

By contrast, Rice, all £105 million of him, has eased his way into the affections of those at the Emirates with minimal fuss. Alongside angel-faced captain Martin Odegaard, the England international has staked his claim as an integral component in one of the most alluring midfields in the Premier League. And yet, it still feels as if something is missing. The aforementioned Havertz looks wobbly, Thomas Partey continues to be blighted by injury, Fabio Vieira only impresses in fits and starts, and if Jorginho gets any further over the hill then he's going to have to begin communicating via smoke signals. Maybe that's a touch hyperbolic, but the point stands.

It is unsurprising, therefore, to hear that the Gunners could look to bring in yet another big name recruit in the centre of the park at the end of the season. According to journalist Steve Kay, a lingering interest in Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni could be properly rekindled in the new year, with view to a potential transfer in the summer. Arsenal have reportedly enquired about the French international before, but have previously been told, rather flatly, that he was not for sale.

That stance could soften considerably, however, especially amid suggestions that his current employers are eager to spend freely in the coming months. Illustrious names Kylian Mbappe, Victor Osimhen, and Jamal Musiala have already been touted as prospective targets, and despite the immensity of their vast wealth, at a certain point Real may need to sell before they can buy.

To that end, Arsenal could stand to be notable beneficiaries. At 23, Tchouameni has already shown himself to be a world class talent, versatile and committed, with international and continental pedigree in abundance. In a midfield unit as complete as Real's he can sometimes feel like a middle child - overlooked, taken for granted. Not quite as senior as Federico Valverde, not quite as bright as the utilitarian Eduardo Camavinga or the omnipotent Jude Bellingham.

Nevertheless, Tchouameni - supposedly valued at around £73 million - would justifiably be regarded as an asset to just about any side in world football, Arsenal's included. Certainly, the prospect of him slotting in alongside Rice, while Odegaard roves and conjures before them, is a mouth-watering one.

And if the Gunners are to sustain their current tilt at domestic and continental supremacy then this is not just the type of signing that they should be trying to make, it's the type of signing they might need to make. Tchouameni has the feeling of a missing jigsaw piece, the final cog in a great whirring machine. What a statement of intent his arrival would be.