Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has asked his former club to get in the ring and fight for the signatures of Morocco midfielders Azzedine Ounahi and Sofyan Amrabat.
Morocco wrote the underdog story of the World Cup when they reached the semis of the 2022 edition currently ongoing in Qatar. Their path to the historic achievement was laced with Croatia, Belgium, Spain, Portugal and Canada as obstacles but the Atlas Lions smashed them all.
They became the first African team to reach the semis of the global showpiece and had the world cheering them on to push for a place in the final. However, defending champions France were too strong for them and their amazing run ended in the semis. They will face 2018 runners-up Croatia for a chance at history on Saturday.
Among their standout players were Fiorentina man Sofyan Amrabat and Angers SC man Azzedine Ounahi. The performances of both midfielders have caused a flock of clubs to line up at their agents’ offices to discuss terms of a transfer ahead of the January transfer window.
Parlour, who played in midfield for the Gunners in his day, recognised the talent both players have and advised his old club to try to get either or both of them in January.
Speaking to talkSPORT about which players he would sign for Arsenal in January, Parlour said: “Ounahi, the No.8, he is different class. Would I take him at Arsenal? Definitely!
“With that performance and what I’ve seen of him in this tournament, he’s not fazed by big games, the biggest game for his country maybe ever.
“He just looked so comfortable, he was always on the half-turn and looking to probe and try to get balls in behind the full-backs.
“Amrabat, he’s a player, too. If I was Arsenal I’d be looking at him. Central midfield, he can get his foot in. A very good player.”
Angers, meanwhile, have received a surprising bid for Ounahi from an unlikely source. Leicester City have been reported to have approached the French Ligue 1 club with a bid of €45 million for the 22-year-old midfielder. This is despite the interest of clubs like AC Milan, Inter Milan, Barcelona and other Premier League clubs.
The Atlas Lions number 8 is currently focused on making history with his nation as they prepare to take on Croatia in their bid to become the first African nation to finish in the top three of the World Cup.
