Arsenal transfer news: Nkunku, Monreal, Martinez, Fraser

Gunners get green light for Nkunku

Arsenal are closing in on Christopher Nkunku, according to The Sun, with the paper reporting that Paris Saint-Germain are “willing to let the talented midfielder leave for a fee in the region of £17.2m”.

Nkunku has a year left on his contract and the 21-year-old is apparently anxious about his lack of playing time having made just 13 league starts this season.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Arsenal boss Unai Emery is a fan of Nkunku, having nurtured him through the youth ranks during his time in charge of PSG.

The Sun says that the Gunners gaffer wanted to sign the playmaker on loan in January, but PSG chiefs turned down the approach and Emery had to turn instead to Barcelona’s Denis Suarez.

That move has flopped, but the Sun says that Arsenal have sent scouts to watch Nkunku in action recently and an offer will be tabled next month.

New deal for Monreal

The Daily Star says that the Gunners are “desperate” to pin down Nacho Monreal to a new contract because Barcelona are looking to lure the Spanish defender to the Camp Nou for nothing at the end of the season when his contract expires.

Sources in Spain report that the Catalan club are tracking Monreal and as a result Arsenal chiefs are “scrambling” to get a new deal sorted.

But if the Gunners fail to qualify for the Champions League it’s expected that Monreal will head to Barcelona where he’s wanted as the back-up to Jordi Alba.

Martinez threat

Someone else who could soon be leaving north London is Emiliano Martinez, says The Sun.

The 26-year-old is Arsenal’s third-choice goalkeeper and he has grown tired of being a bit-part player, warning Unai Emery that he’ll quit unless he is guaranteed more game time.

Martinez has impressed this season on loan for Reading and the Argentine believes his consistent form deserves to be recognised at the Emirates.

“I just want to know if they trust me,” he said. “If they want to give me the chance to become No.1, I will stay there, no doubt. Arsenal are a club of my dreams but if they can’t guarantee me any games then it’s time for me to move on.”

Frontrunners for Fraser

The Daily Star claims that Arsenal are the “frontrunners” to prise Scotland winger Ryan Fraser from Bournemouth this summer.

Chelsea are also interested in Fraser, seeing him as a possible replacement for Eden Hazard, but according to the Star the Blues “are not as advanced in their pursuit as Arsenal”.