Mikel Arteta will be hoping the final couple of weeks of the transfer window are kind to Arsenal as he aims to end their 19-year Premier League drought this season.

The North London side are closing in on main target Mykhailo Mudryk as Arteta looks set to bolster his attacking options, however, another centre-forward to take the burden from Eddie Nketiah and a midfielder will also be on his list.

According to Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness) Arteta is keen on a move for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic although a potential fee for the player could be as high as €120m (£106m) and the Serie A side are in prime position considering his contract doesn’t expire until 2024.

It would be a major statement of intent if Arsenal could secure his services and he could be an upgrade on current centre midfielder Thomas Partey.

Milinkovic-Savic could be a Partey upgrade

The Ghanaian has actually enjoyed a fruitful season playing alongside Granit Xhaka in the heart of the Arsenal midfield, scoring twice, making 0.9 key passes per match, and averaging 78.7 touches per game.

Even defensively he has been integral to the side's excellent form this campaign, making 2.1 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, and 1.6 clearances per match while winning 57% of his duels.

It’s a testament to how good Milinkovic-Savic has been this season that he could arrive at Arsenal and be an upgrade on a player who has displayed the figures Partey has, but the Serbian could be a truly wonderful signing.

Indeed, this term, the 27-year-old has outperformed Partey in a variety of metrics, registering more goal contributions (ten to two), shots per match (1.73 to 1.19), goal-creating actions (ten to three), blocks (19 to nine) and won more aerial duels (35 to 19), via FBref.

Arteta is currently lacking in midfield depth and signing the Lazio star would help solve this issue while adding one of Europe’s finest to his squad.

Milinkovic-Savic ranks in the top six% across Europe’s top five leagues for assists, total shots, non-penalty goals, touches in the opposition box, progressive passes recovery, and aerials won compared to positional peers according to FBref.

Reporter Siavoush Fallahi previously dubbed the player as “insane” and his current form suggests that he could add that extra bit of steel to the Arsenal side which could help power them over the line and claim an incredible league title triumph.