The report claims Arsenal are one of four clubs in the race for the highly-rated star, alongside Liverpool, Chelsea and Atlético Madrid.
Arsenal are among the clubs interested in Lille forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo after the Belgian attacker reportedly informed the French club that he wants to leave this summer.
According to French journalist Loïc Tanzi at L’equipe, Fernandez-Pardo has asked to depart LOSC in search of a move to a bigger club ahead of the new season.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo a demandé à quitter le LOSC. Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea et l’Atetico sont sur le coup. Le Belge aimerait que Lille accepte de le laisser partir pour pouvoir évoluer dans un club plus important la saison prochaine. https://t.co/7GyI7HbhnG
— Loïc Tanzi (@Tanziloic) July 28, 2026
The report claims Arsenal are one of four clubs in the race for the highly-rated youngster, alongside Liverpool, Chelsea and Atlético Madrid, with all monitoring his situation as the transfer window enters its final weeks.
Fernandez-Pardo is regarded as one of Belgian football’s brightest emerging talents and enjoyed an impressive breakthrough campaign in Ligue 1, attracting attention with his pace, technical ability and versatility across the front line.
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Capable of operating on either wing or through the middle, the 20-year-old has developed into one of Lille’s most exciting attacking players and is now believed to be ready for the next step in his career.
Despite the player’s desire to leave, Lille are not expected to make negotiations straightforward.
Club president Olivier Létang has previously insisted Fernandez-Pardo’s future is not up for discussion, meaning any interested club is likely to face difficult negotiations before reaching an agreement.
Arsenal continue to assess several attacking options as Andrea Berta and Mikel Arteta look to strengthen the squad before the transfer window closes.
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While Vinícius Júnior had emerged as the club’s dream target, recent reports suggest the Brazilian is expected to remain at Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Bradley Barcola now appears increasingly likely to join Liverpool after agreeing personal terms with the Premier League side.
Those developments could see Arsenal widen their search, with Fernandez-Pardo fitting the profile of a young, technically gifted attacker capable of developing into a long-term first-team option.
No formal offer has yet been reported from any of the interested clubs, and the race remains open.
However, with the player now pushing for an exit and several European heavyweights monitoring the situation, Fernandez-Pardo looks set to become one of the most closely watched young attackers on the market during the closing stages of the summer transfer window.
Whether Arsenal decide to step up their interest could depend on how negotiations progress with their other attacking targets over the coming weeks.
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Matias Fernandez-Pardo