Aston Villa are now pushing to sign one Premier League player who Mikel Arteta was keen to bring to Arsenal.
With summer international tournaments now out of the way, transfer window is set to pick up pace and one Arsenal target who starred at Euro 2024 now looks to be on the verge of a move.
It is no secret that Mikel Arteta intends to bolster his midfielder contingent this summer. Sourcing additional support for Declan Rice is now a priority for Arsenal.
The Gunners have been linked with many potential acquisitions in this part of the pitch. Arsenal are considering rivalling Barcelona for the signature of Mikel Merino, whilst the likes of Martin Zubimendi, Bruno Guimaraes, and Amadou Onana, amongst others, have all been named in association with the North London club.
As for Onana, though, it now seems that former Arsenal boss Unai Emery is about to steal a march on his one-time employers.
Arsenal set to allow Aston Villa to beat them to Amadou Onana despite Mikel Arteta efforts
Onana was linked with a switch to Arsenal earlier this summer, and it has now been revealed that the Gunners, and possibly Arteta himself, held talks with the Belgium international.
However, according to the Daily Mail, Aston Villa are now closing in on a £50 million deal for the Everton midfielder. Arsenal “made contact” with the Toffees, but never came forward with any kind of formal offer.
Onana was able to impress at Euro 2024, and Arsenal fans may be somewhat miffed that the club never made a serious effort to secure his services.
The 22-year-old certainly has the capacity to shine in the upper reaches of the Premier League. A tremendously powerful and assertive presence in the middle of the park, he would have added steel to the spine of Arteta’s side.
However, it is far to say that there are still rough edges in Onana’s game. His passing can be inconsistent, and his decision making in the final third also needs to improve.
Arsenal midfielder search to support Declan Rice goes on
When it comes to signing a midfielder this summer, the most important thing is bringing in a player who can help to bring the best out of Rice. This most likely means signing someone who can match the England star’s versatility, meaning that they can operate comfortably as both a No. 8 and a No. 6.
Onana’s limited attacking qualities could have seen him struggle in this regard, which is perhaps why Arsenal neglected to launch a bid.
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