Arteta has lost a key midfielderplaceholder image
Arteta has lost a key midfielder | AFP via Getty Images
There are mixed reports over whether Arsenal did indeed make an enquiry for a Premier League midfielder on deadline day.
Arsenal are said to be potential contenders for a juicy summer transfer deal. The Gunners were left scouring the market for a potential midfield option on deadline day after Mikel Merino was ruled out for the rest of the season through injury.
But after spending big money last summer, Arsenal were not willing to spend big to land one, especially with the knowledge Merino will be back for next season.
Arsenal could yet move to land a free agent, with former midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain being linked. But there will also be links ahead of the summer, and especially after reports the Gunners checked in over Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali’s availability.
The Italian sparked rumours after admitting he was taking his time at Newcastle on a season-by-season basis. He said: “This is a tough question because, you know, [in] football you need to think year for year. I don't want to say I want to stay here 10 years and in two years, three years, four years [or] five years I will go."
Though, the player’s agent, Guiseppe Riso, has since told Sky: “We never had any conversation with Arsenal. Newcastle were never gonna let Tonali leave in January. There’s absolutely nothing into it. We didn’t even talk about it.”
That’s despite a report from David Ornstein that read: “Sandro Tonali offered to Arsenal by agent so #AFC explored but no contact with Newcastle United; nothing will happen this window. 25yo’s camp put idea to Andrea Berta so looked into as per any player of interest. #NUFC exit now impossible @TheAthleticFC.”
While purely speculation, the most likely scenario is that Tonali was shopped out with a view to a summer move, creating some noise now, and that is easily denied after the fact. For now, we must take Tonali’s agent at his word, but given what the midfielder has said, it does not rule out a summer move.
Newcastle are likely to demand £80million or more to sell Tonali should he go in the summer, but there could be a deal on the cards, according to Fabrizio Romano. He posted on X: “Sandro Tonali was never gonna leave Newcastle in January window, never been a possibility. Could be one to watch in the summer with several clubs already keen, but it will depend on Newcastle + not a topic now.”
That will give Arsenal fans hoping for a Tonali signing some hope ahead of the summer, when the Gunners may well open up their chequebook again ahead of what they hope will be a title defence next season.
Replacing Merino for now
Asked on Monday if he Arsenal could look to a new signing or a free agent to replace Merino, Arteta said: “Of course, when you lose a big player like this in the squad with four months to go and all the competitions to play for, you need to look and we need to do everything that we possibly can to see if we have a player that is available. If we don't, we keep what we have.”
He added: “At this level, especially for four months, you have to be a player who has the capacity to adapt immediately and impact the team, and that's not easy. But if it was easy, we wouldn't be here. So we need to find solutions and try.”
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