Mikel Arteta has some key decisions to make ahead of facing Fulham.placeholder image
Mikel Arteta has some key decisions to make ahead of facing Fulham. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal have been linked with a move to sign Antoine Semenyo and they have a swap deal offer that could benefit both parties.
Mikel Arteta must be looking forward to the January transfer window because, for once, his squad is in good shape and Arsenal are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table.
Arsene Wenger coined the ‘like new signings’ phrase but the increase in competition will only benefit Arteta’s bid to become the first title winning boss since the legendary Frenchman.
Swap deal Arsenal should offer to sign Antoine Semenyo
Despite their current position, Arsenal are looking to strengthen in January with one of the Premier League’s in-form forwards being reported as a possible target. Antoine Semenyo is a name being linked with a move to the Emirates as well as the rest of the other sides in contention for Champions League football. The Bournemouth flyer put pen to paper on a new deal with The Cherries in the summer that includes a release clause of £65m should Arsenal want to follow up their interest.
How Bournemouth replace their best player could be a stumbling block to any January deal which is why Arsenal should box clever and offer a proven Premier League winger in exchange to pad out the deal. With Jesus, Havertz and Madueke all set to be options for Arteta in the new year, game time might become restricted for Gabriel Martinelli. This would be cut even more if Arsenal sign Semenyo.
Arsenal would strengthen their squad and forward line with Bournemouth not having to scour the market to replace a consistent goal scorer and creator.
When can Arsenal trigger Semenyo release clause?
It was David Ornstein who broke the news of Semenyo’s release clause with the respected transfer journalist explaining on The Athletic’s football podcast when the clause can be activated: “It's applicable immediately, so the January transfer window. Some had suggested it was only available next summer. No, January, it becomes live for a certain period of time. We must hasten to add, which I imagine with these things is in around the first 10 days of the window. And that then gives a couple of weeks for Bournemouth to find a replacement if indeed it is activated.
“And if it isn't, then it puts them in a really strong position to keep him until the summer because they're under no obligation to negotiate. I think they've taken a really mature and professional stance to this Bournemouth. They accept he wouldn't have signed the new deal if they hadn't agreed to this. So, it was a common sense thing to do. Now it comes around to the fact that it may be activated, but only for a certain period of time. So clubs better get their skates on if they're going to do so.
“My understanding is it's available to all clubs, not just certain suitors. You know, the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham have all been heavily linked in recent days and weeks. “It's a clause that if it does go to the summer when it will reactivate, then it's at a lower fee.”
Given the interest and the clubs who are keeping an eye on Semenyo, whoever offers the best deal to Bournemouth could be successful and Arsenal have an ace up their sleeve with a potential swap deal.
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