Arsenal have now scouted ‘phenomenal’ £54m star at the Emirates

Arsenal have ‘scouted’ Rennes attacking midfielder Lovro Majer ahead of the January transfer window, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The Gunners were in the market for engine room reinforcements over the summer but ultimately fell short in their deadline-day pursuit of Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz.

What is the latest news involving Majer?

A recent report from The Sun has claimed that Arsenal ran the rule over Majer in Croatia’s recent 2-1 victory over Denmark in their Nations League encounter.

The talented 24-year-old’s recent displays have seen him likened to compatriot Luka Modric, catching the attention of a host of top clubs from across the continent along the way.

It’s claimed that Mikel Arteta’s charges have now watched Majer on two separate occasions, and he may be viewed as the ideal candidate to provide cover and competition in the middle of the park.

Both Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey have had their injury issues this season, and with Majer also comfortable playing in a deeper role, he could relieve the burden on Arsenal’s current midfield options.

The creative talent’s £22,000-per-week contract doesn’t expire until the summer of 2026, though, and any deal is reportedly set to cost his potential suitors around €60 million (£54m).

What has Jones said about Majer?

Jones has disclosed that Ligue 1 is a market Arsenal ‘watch closely’ and is evidently a big fan of Majer, claiming that he can ‘see passes that very few other players can’.

In an interview with GiveMeSport, he said: “This is a market they watch closely, and it is true that they’ve had him scouted.

“When you look at his style of play, he’s got a great weight of pass, he loves demanding the ball, he can see passes that very few other players can.”

How good is Majer?

Majer joined Rennes from Dinamo Zagreb back in August 2021 and has gone on to register seven goals and 11 assists in 44 appearances across all competitions since.

As per FBref, the 5 foot 9 ace also ranked in the 99th percentile for progressive passes received and progressive carries, 98th for shot-creating actions, 97th for touches in the attacking penalty area, and 96th for total shots amongst his positional peers over the last year.

His form for Rennes led to talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbing Majer “phenomenal”, and he is certainly one of the most exciting prospects in the French top-flight.

Only time will tell if Arsenal follow up their interest in Majer with a concrete offer, but he appears to fit the mould of what Arteta is trying to build at the Emirates Stadium.