Jason Ayto confirms Arsenal were genuinely thinking about signing £100m player at one point

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A current Premier League star could’ve been an Arsenal player, as the Gunners did the groundwork to sign him before being beaten to his signature.

Beating a club to sign a player is a narrative that Arsenal know very well, as the summer transfer window represented one of the most dramatic moves in club history. 

Eberechi Eze snubbed Tottenham to sign for Arsenal after Andrea Berta hijacked the deal, showcasing his pedigree in his new role. 

Berta impressed Arsenal fans, orchestrating a successful transfer window after being appointed sporting director, a job title that was previously eyed by Jason Ayto. 

Ayto left Arsenal soon after Berta’s unveiling, and now, his wish has come true, becoming sporting director at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Jason Ayto reveals Arsenal’s past interest in Carlos Baleba

While taking on some media duties with his new club, Ayto let one of Arsenal’s previous transfer secrets slip.

Speaking to Brighton’s official YouTube channel, Ayto revealed that the Gunners once had their eye on Carlos Baleba. 

“Brighton are really agile, are really quick in the market, and we’ve had a few players, and I do remember Carlos Baleba, where we just sort of ‘well we’re going to follow him through the season and so you can see how he’s doing’ and then it sort of comes on the yellow ticker that Brighton have signed him.

“I won’t say what we said at the time, but yeah, fair play, and it’s better to be on this side of it now.”

Ayto’s revelation makes it no surprise that Arsenal’s interest in Baleba arose in the summer transfer window, but instead, the decision to sign Martin Zubimendi was made.

What Ayto was referencing was the Gunners’ interest while the midfielder was still at LOSC Lille, with Brighton wrapping up a deal worth £23m for the Cameroonian.

Baleba is now a £100m player

It’s no surprise that, by Ayto’s reaction, Arsenal were frustrated not to have landed Baleba.

Brighton completed a fantastic deal for the then-teenager, whose value has since soared.

During the summer transfer window, Brighton quoted Manchester United a fee in excess of £100m for Baleba, as reported by the Telegraph. 

The price was too high, and the midfielder remained on the coast, but who knows where his future will lie, and whether Arsenal’s interest will re-emerge.