The Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws (@HLN_BE) says Arsenal have officially reached out to Club Brugge about signing Aleksandar Stanković this summer. The Gunners are already in talks with the Belgian champions and Roc Nation Sports, the agency that looks after the 20-year-old. Manchester United and Chelsea are also keeping tabs on him. Still, Arsenal’s early move shows they really want to get a deal done before the transfer window opens.
There is a bit of a catch, though. Inter Milan, where Stanković grew up, holds a €23 million buy-back clause that stays valid for June 2026. This gives the Italian side significant power in any negotiations.
Arsenal Start Talks for Serbian Midfield Talent Aleksandar Stanković
Stanković was born in August 2005 and is 20 years old, but he is already a regular for the Serbia national team. He recently became their youngest player to ever score in a World Cup qualifier. He moved from Inter Milan to Club Brugge in July 2025 and quickly became one of the Belgian side’s most important players.
Right now, Mikel Arteta has some great options in defensive midfield, like Declan Rice and last year’s big signing, Martín Zubimendi. But with Mikel Merino dealing with injuries and a few squad players likely to leave, Arsenal need quality reinforcement. They want someone young who can reach the top level.
Stanković fits the bill. He is 1.85m tall and has the physical presence to handle the Premier League. He also has a great right foot. He can control the game from deep, which is exactly what Arteta looks for in a midfielder.
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Stanković is versatile, too. He can play as a single holding midfielder or even drop back as a ball-playing centre-back. He is aggressive when winning the ball back but can also pick a pass, making him a perfect all-rounder for the modern game. If Arsenal can find a way around Inter’s buy-back option, the Serbian midfielder would give them a solid long-term solution in the middle of the pitch.
