Arsenal have been linked with moves to sign several huge players over the years.
The Gunners are one of the biggest teams in world football. They are good enough to attract the best talents, and they have signed a few excellent players in recent windows too.
However, like every other football team, Arsenal have missed out on some of their targets, and that has been annoying for fans.
One player who Arsenal have had on their shortlist on multiple occasions in the past will play against them on Wednesday night. Bukayo Saka is a big fan of him.
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka says he really likes Nicolo Barella and two other Inter Milan stars
Nicolo Barella is one of the best midfielders in Italy.
The 27-year-old is a key player for Inter Milan and that has been the case since he joined them from Cagliari. He is a very important part of the Italian national team too.
Barella has long been linked with a move to the Premier League. Multiple top clubs have had him on their wish list over the years.
Arsenal have wanted to sign Barella in multiple windows.
In December 2023, ahead of the January transfer window, even David Ornstein confirmed that Barella is a player Edu and Arteta like at Arsenal, but no move materialised in the end.
That may have disappointed Saka because he has now admitted that he is a big fan of Barella as well as his two Inter Milan teammates – Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram.
Arsenal have been interested in Thuram and Martinez too.
Saka said in a press conference, as relayed on HaytersTV: “If I was to take a player out of Inter Milan now… I don’t know, I could take a lot of them, there are a lot of quality players. I like Barella, I think he is a top midfielder.
“Also, the two strikers, Martinez and Thuram are good as well. But, at the same time, I’m happy with my teammates and I wouldn’t swap any of them for sure.”
Arsenal’s interest in Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez
Arsenal have been in need of a new striker in every transfer window since Pierre-Emerick Aubemayeng left the club.
The Gunners have been linked with several names, and the Inter Milan duo were on Edu Gaspar’s radar.
Arsenal were interested in Martinez in this summer’s transfer window, but Inter managed to hold on to their star striker.
Thuram has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal too – he was even on Edu’s five-man striker shortlist for Arsenal in 2025.
Saka would’ve loved to play with Martinez and Thuram, as well as Barella. It’s a shame that Arsenal didn’t get any of them despite their interest in all three.
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