A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as Mikel Arteta targets a transfer for Sporting Lisbon’s Goncalo Inacio and Paul Merson names the stars ‘weakening’ their title bid.
AS Roma offered Jakub Kiwior’s transfer from Arsenal
Intermediaries have now offered AS Roma a chance to target a transfer for Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior in January. That is according to Forza Roma, which claims that the Gunners will let the 23-year-old leave north London next month having lost their belief in the Poland star.
Agents are trying to source Kiwior a switch away from Emirates Stadium having only started in six games this season. He has been available for all 25 of the Gunners’ matches across all competitions. But Arteta senses Kiwior is still not adapting to playing in a four-man defence.
Arsenal only signed Kiwior from Spezia in January but will try to recoup the €25m (£21.5m) they spent next month. Roma believe it is impossible for them to afford the Gunners’ price tag. But they will look into an initial loan deal with Jose Mourinho desperate for a defender.
Read more about Roma being offered the transfer of Arsenal defender Kiwior, here.
Arsenal target Goncalo Inacio’s transfer from Sporting
While one defender might leave Arsenal in January, Arteta wants the Gunners to sign one in Sporting Lisbon’s Goncalo Inacio. That is according to A Bola, which notes that the Leoes will only let the 22-year-old centre-half move if his €60m (£51.5m) release clause is triggered.
Sporting know Inacio is among the most in-demand defenders in Europe and is an essential part of their squad. But Arsenal have now moved to the front of the queue, having kept tabs on the Portugal star since last term. The Gunners may even make a bid in the coming weeks.
To pre-empt a move for Inacio, Sporting have marked Famalicao’s 21-year-old centre-back Otavio as a replacement. He has attracted the Jose Alvalade Stadium natives’ attention since moving to Liga Portugal this January. But Inacio will not be cheap with a contract until 2027.
Read more about Arsenal’s interest in Inacio’s transfer from Sporting Lisbon, here.
Paul Merson feels Leandro Trossard and Eddie Nketiah are ‘weakening’ Arsenal
Gunners hero Merson has told Sky Sports that Leandro Trossard and Eddie Nketiah are both ‘weakening’ Arsenal. The Magic Man believes Arteta has a lesser team whenever they need to step in for Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus. They are simply ‘good’ and not great stars.
It is down to Arsenal’s lack of skilful attacking depth that Merson claims the Gunners are in a worse position than Liverpool in the Premier League title race, as well. He feels Jurgen Klopp has a ‘luxury’ amount of attacking players at Anfield who can get 10 or more goals this term.
“While they do have good players in Leandro Trossard and Eddie Nketiah replacing the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, you feel like they are weakening the team,” he said.
Merson added: “It is [Liverpool’s] prolific front line which gives them the greatest optimism, in my opinion. [Mohamed] Salah, [Luis] Diaz, [Cody] Gakpo, [Diogo] Jota and [Darwin] Nunez – they all have the ability to get double figures this season. That’s a luxury.”
Read more about what Merson has had to say about Trossard and Nketiah, here.
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