Arsenal is closing in on a deal to sign Christian Norgaard from Brentford, and former Bees boss Thomas Frank previously suggested the Dane was capable of playing for Liverpool
Arsenal is closing in on a somewhat surprising signing, with Brentford’s Christian Norgaard set to move to the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta’s side finished a distant second to Liverpool in the Premier League standings this season, and Gunners fans have been left decidedly underwhelmed by the prospect of Norgaard becoming the club’s first signing of the summer.
With 30-somethings Jorginho and Thomas Partey both leaving the club, it seems as though Arteta is keen to replace their experience, and aged 31, Norgaard could turn out to be a shrewd addition. Norgaard has been at Brentford since 2019 and has made more than 30 Premier League appearances in three of the four seasons that the Bees have been in the top flight.
During Brentford’s first season in the Premier League, Thomas Frank said that he felt Norgaard had the quality to play in Liverpool’s midfield.
“I think Christian is a late bloomer,” said Frank. “And I’m very, very pleased that he’s playing for Brentford. Because I think if you took him out and put him into Liverpool, and changed the two players, Fabinho and him, I don’t think you’d see much difference.”
Norgaard’s impending move to Arsenal comes as Liverpool makes its third major signing of the summer, with Milos Kerkez’s move to Anfield confirmed on Thursday.
Liverpool agreed to pay £40 million ($55 million) for Kerkez, who has signed a five-year contract, joining fellow new signings Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz on Merseyside.
Speaking in his first interview with club media, Kerkez said: “I’m really happy. It’s a real honour for me, a privilege to come to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, [the] biggest club in England.
“I’m just really, really happy and excited.”
Kerkez also revealed his chat with Arne Slot. He added: “We talked about the tactics and the plan and where he sees where I can improve and where I can help the team.
“Obviously when [the] coach comes also and talks to you, it’s a big thing, it’s a big sign of respect.
“For me, there were no second doubts then that I want to go somewhere else. It was always Liverpool.”
On his friendship with Dominik Szoboszlai, Kerkez continued: “Yeah, he’s a really, really, really close, really good friend of mine, and we talk already every second or third day.
“It’s good to have a friend and it’s only going to make it easier for you, he’s going to show me around everything, so it’ll be good to have him here.”