The agent of Paris Saint Germain midfielder Christopher Nkunku says talks with Arsenal are ongoing, however, the fact that the Gunners will not do a permanent deal in January is complicating matters.
Unai Emery, as instructed by the club’s hierarchy, has made it clear that he can only recruit players in on loan before tomorrow’s deadline, although more funds will be available for permanent deals in the summer.
Appearing on Canal + show Late Football Club [quotes translated by Get French Football News], Nkunku’s representative José-Pierre Fanfan explained:
“I am here (in the studio) tonight, which is not a good sign. There is a real interest from Arsenal for Nkunku, but the discussions are quite complicated.
“There are restrictions from Arsenal’s side, they cannot do a transfer in the middle of the season. It is still being discussed with PSG, things could still happen in the next 48 hours, but as I said, the fact that I am here means that it does not look good.
“His situation will be evaluated in June, then he will have just 1 year left on his contract, and his situation will need to be evaluated.
“He is a young boy, who needs to play, enjoy himself, and to sign up for a project for the long term, that is what he is looking for, and he was in that phase with Arsenal but it looks complicated, if we have to wait, then he is ready to do that, he will wait.”
The fact the Gunners are on the cusp of a deal for Denis Suarez, another versatile player with whom Emery has worked, could well be another reason for this deal stalling. Nkunku was more than likely an alternative to the Barcelona man.
When you take that into account, this statement very much looks like an agent making it as clear as possible to any other suitors that his client is still up for grabs. It wouldn’t be very surprising to see him now move elsewhere as the frantic deadline day scramble approaches.
Thank goodness.
Medhi Benatia has just joined Al Duhail in Qatar for €8m. How on earth weren’t we in for him? Incredible negligence from the new management.
A defender who turns 32 in April and is clearly looking to sunset his career is not someone we should be signing.
Utter bollocks. He’s 18 months younger than Kos and just six months older than Sokratis. I’d take him as a quality stopgap for year or so without doubt.
And yet he didn’t join another top side in Europe. There’s more to a story than just your assumption that Arsenal have been negligent.
Stupid to buy old defenders.
Likely come in and get injured. KIM KALSTROMM.
WE already have Lichsteiner.
Plus …Will add to wage bill with little resale value which is already a problem with us as Mslintat has added Too many 29yr olds.
We are tired of those old players see what lichestner is doing
We’ve got young ones who can do very well and we need a defender for Christ’s sake!
We’ll definitely buy more than one defender in the summer. But for now if our targets are not available this window for “loan”, and we can strengthen other place that we require, then why not?
And by the way, defenders alone won’t solve the problem. We need players who can help us control the game, keep possession and not lose the ball that easily as we do. Since most of the chances we concede are balls lost in transitions, the miss-passing and dispossession.
Buying quality midfielders and wingers is as import for us improving defensively.
it’s staggering that a club with cash reserves of £231,000,000 in May, doesn’t have €20,000,000 to spend in January.
And if Nkunku really is a player, ppl within the club are unanimous about bringing to Arsenal? It’s staggering Kroenke can’t give us an interest free loan to cover the fee, until our new sponsorship money arrives in June.
I don’t know why but I always think of Snu Snu from Futurama when I see this kids name.
Anyways this kids a gun but we’ve also got a few coming up…
Ha ha me too
Sky has linked us with Yannick Carrasco. If we actually sign him, will he be a suitable addition?
I prefer him to Perisic.
Played pretty well against us for Monaco a couple of years ago. Leon Bailey is my dream, but Carrasco wouldn.t be too shabby
Big fan of Julian Brandt also
Not necessary.
Can wait till later.
We need slightly more experienced players preferably.
25yrs close to entering peak years is optimum.
Hence Dennis and Carrasco.
I foresee . . . we won’t sign him now promising we’ll sign him in the summer, he’ll have a cracker of last half of the season, his price will skyrocket and we won’t be able to afford him when we go back for him. He’ll sign for Chelsea, Man UTD, Barca or one of the other rich clubs and become a quality player . . . ala Martial, Hazard etc.
Sometimes you gotta take the gamble when you can with these young players with potential.