13 May 2026 17:52 BST |
5 min read
Arsenal have been offered the perfect opportunity to act on their long-standing interest in Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hugo Larsson after he was not included in Sweden’s World Cup squad.
The 21-year-old is regarded as one of his country’s great hopes for the future, but barring a last-minute call-up as an injury replacement, he will not feature for Sweden at the World Cup this summer.
Larsson had been a regular fixture for the Nordic country over the past two years, but fitness problems and a slump in form have made him expendable to Graham Potter. Despite being part of two of the last three squads, Larsson hasn’t actually played for Sweden since September.
Still, the fact that the young midfielder was omitted came as a shock to local media – and especially to Larsson himself. A source close to the player told Fotbollskanalen that he was “completely devastated” when he was informed by Potter on Monday.
Frankfurt director Markus Krosche thundered that the decision is “simply inexplicable” because Larsson has “developed at the highest level in recent years, performed at a consistent level and is one of the absolute key players in our team.”
Larsson available for cut price?
Larsson’s non-participation in the World Cup could influence his future. As BILD points out, the 21-year-old has had a middling season, and not having the chance to show off his skills on the biggest stage will see his value drop.
The midfielder is currently Sweden’s ninth-most-valuable player with an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €22.8 million, but there has been talk that Frankfurt could demand as much as €60 million for him.
Larsson is planning to take the next step in his career this summer. However, it is looking increasingly unlikely that Frankfurt will get the desired fee for the youngster. He simply hasn’t justified his price tag this season.
It is important to note, though, that it hasn’t all been his fault. On the contrary, it has been a hugely difficult season for Frankfurt, who sacked Dino Toppmoller in January and replaced him with Albert Riera.
That appointment hasn’t worked out either, and the former Liverpool star is expected to be sacked once the season concludes. The intense and strong-willed Spaniard hasn’t been able to build any kind of rapport with the squad.
Frankfurt’s struggles have influenced Larsson, as have repeated minor injuries and illnesses. He hasn’t been as effective as in previous years. “Instead of bossing the midfield, he often played just a supporting role,” BILD writes.
Larsson is a box-to-box midfielder, but he is at his best when he has a more defensive-minded player next to or behind him. In past seasons, Ellyes Skhiri’s impressive form has allowed the Swede to interpret his role freely and to cheat a little on defensive responsibilities.
However, the Tunisia international, now aged 31, has endured a very difficult season. He seems to have lost a step and perhaps a little focus, and Frankfurt don’t really have anyone else like him in the squad. This has had a destabilising effect on the team and on Larsson.
This is also reflected in data from analytics firm SciSports. Larsson sits firmly in the middle of the pack among Bundesliga midfielders this season. He hasn’t been terrible, but he hasn’t been great either.
Larsson still has huge potential
Despite this, SciSports believes that Larsson still has a bright future ahead of him. SciSports analyses hundreds of in-game data points to generate a SciSkill rating and a player’s potential.
For Larsson, the latter is particularly impressive. He still has incredible room to grow and could eventually reach a similar level to Arsenal superstar Declan Rice. Of course, he is not yet as well-rounded a midfielder as the Englishman.
This comparison, though, is interesting because Arsenal are long-standing admirers of Larsson. In January 2025, FootballTransfers confirmed that the Gunners were closely following his development at Frankfurt.
The interest in Larsson has remained, and this summer could be the perfect time to get him on a budget-friendly deal. With his stock quite low after a disappointing season, he could become a market opportunity.
Arsenal have been looking to sign a young midfielder for a few years, but they have not yet found the right one. With Myles Lewis-Skelly now starring in that position, the need for reinforcements is not as urgent.
However, given his impressive potential, signing Larsson could be a gamble worth taking.
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