Arsenal could sign a man who was once compared with Thierry Henry.placeholder image
Arsenal could sign a man who was once compared with Thierry Henry. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal could secure a swap deal for a man who was once compared to club icon Thierry Henry
Premier League leaders Arsenal face an important winter period as they look to strengthen their grip on top of the league, in what many are starting to believe could finally be the Gunners’ year.
After three successive second-placed finishes, there is no more room for slip-ups, no more forgiveness if previous foes Manchester City or Liverpool mount a late charge to take the trophy from under the Gunners’ noses.
Arsenal have built a near-perfect squad in recent years to carry out Mikel Arteta’s vision, with multiple top players in each position on the pitch. But there could yet be room for a marquee signing or two in January if the leaders want to elevate their squad yet further.
One man who certainly knows what it takes to win a Premier League title is Gunners icon Thierry Henry. Arsenal have recently been linked with making an approach for a player who was once compared to the French legend.
Arsenal considering approach for €80m star who could win them the Champions League
According to reports by Fichajes in Spain, Arsenal are considering making a swoop for AC Milan winger Rafael Leao, who they feel can give them the ‘boost’ needed to win the Champions League according to the Spanish publication.
The 26-year-old has previously been cited as having an €150million release clause, but Fichajes report that this asking price has been slashed down to €80m (£71m), while The Mirror quotes Milan’s demands as £85m for their Portuguese star.
Leao has long been linked with a Premier League move, but clubs have often been put off by Milan’s demands in the past. But this time, it appears that the Rossoneri are prepared to let Leao depart so that they can get a substantial fee for their prize asset, whom they signed from Lille for €35m in 2019.
Former Milan manager Stefano Pioli once compared Leao with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, starting in 2022: “Leao reminds me a lot of the early Thierry Henry, who started wide then came inside.
“He was a great player but I’m still young and not at that level yet,” Leao told DAZN in a humble response.
Arsenal and AC Milan could seal swap deal involving Leao and Gabriel Martinelli
Fichajes continue in their report that Arsenal are considering selling Gabriel Martinelli to make room for Leao. They would be smart to include the Brazilian in a swap deal to secure their top target and sweeten the deal for Milan, providing them with a ready-made replacement.
Martinelli is by no means an outcast under Arteta but it is thought that his rapid development has stunted in recent seasons. At 24 years-old, Martinelli will be expecting to be a regular starter as he heads into the prime years of his career.
But he has not started in the Premier League since August, scoring a late equaliser against Man City and three times in the Champions League but still finding himself below Leandro Trossard in the pecking order in the league.
If Leao were to arrive, Martinelli’s chances of starting in the biggest matches would become even smaller. But with the Italian giants, he could return to his very best. While it would be difficult for Arsenal to justify a straight swap between the two players, an offer of Martinelli plus a fee in the region of £20m - £25m could seal the deal if Milan’s slashed asking price is to prove true.
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