Arsenal may be set for an interesting transfer deadline day.
Arsenal have been linked with a move for Sandro Tonali late in the day, while the Gunners are seemingly set to sign James Wilson from Hearts.
Arsenal fans would be forgiven for not knowing much about Wilson. After all, he’s an 18-year-old who isn’t even starting for Hearts.
However, Arsenal are doing a deal to bring Wilson in on loan, a transfer that has left Paul Merson perplexed.
Fill in the blank: Signing James Wilson on a striaght loan would be a __________ deal from Arsenal…
Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson has been discussing this move, and he says that he’s very confused by this transfer.
Indeed, Merson says that he doesn’t get why Wilson is joining Arsenal on loan, stating that it doesn’t make sense for Hearts to send a player out temporarily as they push for the Scottish title.
Paul Merson reacts to James Wilson to Arsenal
Merson spoke about the deal to bring Wilson on loan to Arsenal.
The pundit was perplexed by this move, repeatedly claiming that he can’t work out why this would be just a loan.
Merson reckons there could be more than meets the eye here, with the 18-year-old potentially joining Arsenal permanently.
“Yeah, he’s coming on loan, isn’t he? That’s what I couldn’t work out. You’re saying on loan first? Yeah, I didn’t understand that, especially if you’re Hearts. I mean, Hearts, if they got a couple of injuries in the next couple of weeks. And they’re going for the Scottish Premiership, do you know what I mean? So, for me, that’s a bit surprising for me at the moment,
“There must be more to it than a loan, Hearts haven’t been in this position for a long time, this kid scored last season, you never know, if Hearts get a few injuries. There has to be more to this.”
Arsenal repeating Manchester United transfer deadline day trick
On the surface, it does seem strange that Arsenal are loaning an 18-year-old striker on transfer deadline day.
However, it’s clear that this transfer isn’t for the first-team, it’s likely for the U21s.
We’ve seen this sort of transfer happen on deadline day before, back in 2015, Manchester United signed Andy Kellett on loan on deadline day, and, once again, this was a signing to bolster the youth ranks rather than the first-team.
Who knows? Maybe Wilson could join Arsenal permanently in the summer, but, for now, it’s likely he’s set for a spell in the academy rather than a first-team berth.
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