Arsenal have enquired about the availability of midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery, although Paris Saint-Germain have no interest in selling the player this summer, Arsenal Insider understands.
Zaire-Emery, who burst onto the scene in the 2022/23 campaign at the Parc des Princes, lost his place in Luis Enrique’s first-choice eleven last season, with the Spaniard favouring a trio of Vitinha, Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz.
This decline in prominence in Paris has sparked interest from a host of clubs, with the Gunners one of those who have expressed a desire to sign the 19-year-old.
However, PSG see him as a pivotal part of their future and aren’t willing to negotiate with any potential suitors at the moment.
PSG have told Warren Zaire-Emery he can’t leave this summer amid Arsenal interest
Zaire-Emery broke into PSG’s team at the age of 16 in August 2022, and has since gone on to make over 100 appearances for the French giants, establishing himself as a key figure in Enrique’s team.
However, the teenage sensation took on a more peripheral role last season after the addition of Neves, starting just 23 Ligue 1 games across the entire campaign, and none in the critical knockout games en route to Champions League glory.
Given his talent, the Frenchman may have been somewhat frustrated by his lack of minutes at crucial points in the season.
That said, transfer expert Graeme Bailey told Arsenal Insider that PSG have told him he will not be allowed to leave this summer.
“Arsenal are one of the clubs that have enquired about Zaire-Emery, although he’s not currently available,” Bailey said.
“PSG won’t let him go, but all the big clubs in Europe are asking about him, given his situation.
“He’s a top-class player and one who Arsenal have got historic interest in. So it’s no surprise that they would ask about him, given he’s a generational player.
“It would be an interesting one with [Thomas] Partey and Jorginho now going, but as it stands, PSG are saying no to him.”
Arsenal were linked with Zaire-Emery back in January 2023, but were ultimately unsuccessful in their attempts to land him.
Arsenal should try to sign Warren Zaire-Emery in a future window
While PSG may not be willing to sell their prized academy graduate right now, it’s possible that the player’s frustration will continue to grow if he’s not a starter next season.
Neves and Vitinha aren’t going anywhere any time soon, while Ruiz likely has two or three more years left in him.
That means there’s not an obvious position for him in the side over the upcoming season or two, and he could push for a departure.
Arsenal should keep tabs on this situation and look to revisit it in the future.
| Warren Zaire-Emery’s Ligue 1 Statistics 2024/25 | |
| Appearances | 29 |
| Pass Accuracy | 92.8% |
| Progressive Passes per 90 | 5.92 |
| Key Passes per 90 | 0.79 |
| Progressive Carries per 90 | 2.15 |
| Tackles per 90 | 2.24 |
| Interception per 90 | 1.01 |
Thomas Partey is expected to leave this summer, while Jorginho has already left for Flamengo, which should create squad space in the future for an arrival of someone of Zaire-Emery’s calibre.
As shown by the data above, the starlet has everything in his game, boasting incredible on-the-ball attributes, as well as being solid defensively.
He’d be an outstanding addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad.
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