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Dominik Szoboszlai has emerged on the radar as a potential summer signing for Arsenal.

The Gunners could be in the market for a midfielder following Aaron Ramsey's exit to sign for Juventus.

After missing out on Champions League football last season, and the smallest transfer budget in the Premier League's top six this summer, Unai Emery will struggle to add quality to his squad.

Rather than buying household name players, Arsenal are expected to move for targets that offer potential and Szoboszlai would fit that profile.

Last summer, Matteo Guendouzi arrived from Lorient for less than £10million and went on to make 48 senior appearances for Emery.

To find out whether the 18-year-old Red Bull Salzburg midfielder would be a smart signing, football.london spoke to Hungarian football expert Tom Mortimer.

How highly rated is Dominik Szoboszlai in Hungary and why?

Enormously. Dominik Szoboszlai is probably the highest-rated Hungarian in the modern era, which might not sound like much, but Hungary have had many a hyped talent over recent years who've failed to live up to expectation.

Szoboszlai seems different, though. Unlike those Hungarians of the past, his ability has accelerated massively since he burst onto the scene, and his performances at youth and senior level over the last two years have been astounding

Last season he scored 11 goals and assisted in 10 in 29 games across all competitions across the Austrian Bundesliga, Austria second tier, Austria Cup and Europa League, while at international level this year he's become Hungary's eighth-youngest player, and the youngest starter since 2006, and started and played a substantial role in Hungary's wins over Croatia and Wales in Euro qualifying.

Not bad for an 18 year old, really.

What is your reaction to hearing about Szoboszlai being linked to Arsenal?

Trepidation. I'm scared of him becoming a small fish in a big pond. At the prices quoted, that is nothing to a club like Arsenal. I'm scared he won't be given the respect and the time he needs.

He's only played half a season in the Austrian Bundesliga. What if he doesn't adapt to the Premier League straight away? Will Arsenal be patient with him? Will an ill-suited loan spell destroy his confidence?

His physicality is probably his biggest weakness, and a loan move to a Championship club could swallow him.

I'm very scared of him moving to England. Another one of Hungary's big talents, Krisztian Nemeth, moved to Liverpool as a much-touted youngster and never played a senior game for the club, unable to worm his way past the more physical David N'Gog.

Szoboszlai isn't ready-made. He needs time to develop. I know Arsenal are a little different to the other top clubs in England but I still find it hard to trust them.

What are Szoboszlai's best qualities?

When he is allowed space he can do anything. He has an outrageous shot with both feet - thunderbolts, curlers, chips - he can do it all. He's also got lightning feet, a wonderful passing range, great vision, super intelligence.

He's the perfect playmaker or number eight. A little bit like a Paul Pogba-lite.

What does Szoboszlai need to work on?

This is why he's a Pogba-lite, because he doesn't have Pogba's frame and that's his big problem - but at 18 playing in Austria for a dominant side like Red Bull Salzburg, what else would you expect?

That should come with time, so long as he's given it.

He's also not quite used to playing in super tight areas. Against Napoli in the Europa League, and Croatia and Wales in Euro qualifying, he was closed down a lot more than he was used to and therefore couldn't affect the game as much as he'd like, but that's again something that will surely come with time when he goes up the levels.

What does Szoboszlai need from the team around him to thrive?

He needs to play in a team that dominates the ball, and therefore Arsenal in that respect would be an excellent fit. I've seen him touted as an Aaron Ramsey replacement and that's probably fair enough.

I think Ramsey has more dynamism than Szoboszlai will ever have, though, but Szoboszlai would be perfect for the one-two touch football that Arsenal love to play.

(Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Play him in a counter-attacking side and you're negating his best qualities. He needs to play up the field. That's where his intelligence and intricacy comes into full effect.

How good do you think Szoboszlai could become?

He has the potential to become one of the best players in the world. There's truly no doubt. He just needs to be nurtured right.

What do you think of the timing to see him move to a so-called 'big club' this summer?

Personally, I dread him moving away from RB Salzburg. He's not played enough senior football yet and at a big club he could so easily just become a number. How often do we see a young talent snapped up and fail to live up to his potential?

He should stay at Salzburg next season, become their best player, win the league, play in the Champions League, and then move on. He would benefit from that journey immensely. He's 18. He doesn't need to move now.

We've seen with the likes of Sadio Mane, Naby Keita and Kevin Kampl how beneficial those formative years at Salzburg can be if a player is prepared to wait and grow rather than rush away before their time.

If he takes the right path, I'd say that by 2022 or 2023 could be when he really makes an impact as a top Champions League level player. But hey, you never know in this game.

Does Guendouzi's first season at Arsenal give any hope despite concerns over Szoboszlai?

A little. He’s a young midfielder who came from a weaker league and was able to make an immediate impact, but that’s the only similarity. Guendouzi is feisty, he’s combative, he’s aggressive.

Szoboszlai is none of those things right now.

One day he’ll be good enough to play in that arena but right now, while his speed of thought isn’t quick enough to evade the physicality, he’ll likely struggle.

And as a result may look massively out of his depth unlike Guendouzi this season, and if that’s the case, how many chances will he be afforded?

I think he needs to develop some more first before going to a club like Arsenal.

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