**Arsenal have added Lille forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo to their list of transfer targets, according to reports in the French media.**
[_Foot Mercato_](https://www.footmercato.net/a3373846169514331438-losc-fernandez-pardo-sur-la-short-list-darsenal) claim that the Gunners are monitoring the Belgian international “very closely”, with the player pressing to leave his current team.
Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig have both had bids turned down for Fernandez-Pardo, while other Premier League clubs such as Newcastle, Manchester United and Liverpool have also shown interest.
However, Lille remain steadfast that the winger will not be leaving before the transfer window closes unless their valuation is met.
What do Arsenal fans need to know about the player?
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Fernandez-Pardo is actually in his second spell at Lille, having originally joined their youth academy from KV Mechelen in 2014.
The [**forward**](https://goonernews.com/blog/arsenal-transfer-news-gabriel-martinelli-kenan-yildiz-swap/) moved to Gent in 2020 before returning to France in a deal worth €11.5m two years ago, going on to establish himself as a regular starter.
Fernandez-Pardo had the option of playing for Spain or Italy, despite being born in Brussels, but he was given his competitive debut by Belgium at the World Cup in June.
He has pace to burn, and can play right across the front three. During his time with Lille, he has started 30 games as a winger and 19 times as a centre-forward.
Fernandez-Pardo’s price tag is pretty steep
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_Foot Mercato_ report that the 21-year-old will only be allowed to leave if they receive a fee in the region of €70m or £60m.
Lille are not under any pressure to sell. They are about to offload Ayyoub Bouaddi to Manchester City in a deal worth €100m (£86m).
The offers for Fernandez-Pardo from Atletico and Leipzig were €40m (£34m) and €35m (£3om), respectively, so they have yet to receive a proposal anywhere near the figure they are holding out for. Speaking about his situation at the weekend, sporting director Sylvain Armand said:
“Matias Fernandez-Pardo is a very important player. We’re counting on him. Talking about Matias leaving isn’t necessarily on the table right now.”