Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Brighton  & Hove Albion midfielder Alexis MacAllister in January and his potential arrival at the Emirates could be another masterclass by sporting director Edu.

What's the word?

According to TyC Sports journalist Gastón Edul, Chelsea, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid are all keen on the Argentina international, who stared at the recent World Cup in Qatar as Lionel Scaloni's side triumphed against France in the final.

While Chelsea are said to be leading the race for the former Boca Juniors man, it is thought that a January move could be extremely difficult, as the Seagulls are in a strong position financially and won't be keen to sell the 24-year-old after some eye-catching recent performances.

The young midfielder had already impressed in the Premier League ahead of the World Cup break, hitting five goals in 14 appearances for Brighton, earning a strong 7.05 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

However, he featured in a more advanced position in Qatar and was one of Argentina's most consistent players en route to glory, scoring one goal and providing one assist, earning a 7.11 rating from WhoScored which ranked him as his country's third-best performer behind only Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria.

Therefore, it is clear that MacAllister already has what it takes to perform at the very top and it is easy to see why Arsenal might want to bring him to the Emirates in 2023.

A repeat of Arsenal's White masterclass

Brighton have cultivated a reputation for identifying top young talents and selling them on for big fees in recent years, with Ben White, Marc Cucurella and Yves Bissouma all leaving for big transfer fees after establishing themselves as top young talents at the Amex Stadium.

White, in particular, has caught the eye with his performances for the Gunners this season, earning a strong 6.89 rating from WhoScored for his performances in the top flight, despite being moved to right-back by Arteta this season in order to accommodate William Saliba in the starting XI.

WhoScored state that MacAllister's strengths include passing, holding onto the ball and defensive contribution, all of which suggest that he has the ability and attitude to be a success at the Emirates.

Former Brighton boss Alan Mullery praised the versatile midfielder on BBC Radio Sussex’s Albion Unlimited podcast during the World Cup.

He said: "Mac Allister has looked a class, quality player.

“He thinks of what he wants to do when the ball arrives, play it short, run it, defend it. He’s a very good midfield player. He has the capability to go forward and also defend. He’s not big and strong but he wins tackles. He has this attitude and when he has the ball he looks forward very carefully. I think he has been outstanding this season.”

Considering the success of their last signing from Brighton, it is no surprise that Edu is seemingly looking towards the south coast for another potential addition in 2023.