With Arsenal’s season in danger of disintegrating, boss Unai Emery is using his contacts in Spain to try to strengthen his squad.
Defeat to Manchester United in Friday night’s FA Cup fourth-round clash leaves the Gunners with only the Europa League and the possibility of a fourth-place finish in the Premier League to play for.
Malcom in the mix
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According to The Sun Arsenal are tailing Barcelona’s Brazilian winger Malcom and they are “hoping for developments before deadline day” on Thursday.
Having given up on Denis Suarez, the north London outfit have turned their attention to Malcom and are cautiously optimistic they can take the 21-year-old on loan.
Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde has overlooked the young Samba star for much of this season but the Sun says the club’s board “are reluctant to lose him”.
Nonetheless they could be prepared to farm him out to Arsenal for six months, and if the Gunners were ready to meet their £50m asking price a permanent deal could be agreed in the summer.
Tottenham have also been linked with a move for Malcom.
Fornals on the radar
The Sun also claims that the Gunners have their eye on Villarreal midfielder Pablo Fornals, the 22-year-old who comes with a £28.5m release clause.
The young Spaniard has been capped twice by his country and apparently it’s his attacking instincts that have impressed Emery.
Spanish newspaper Sport says Villarreal are aware of the interest but manager Luis Garcia denies a move is on the cards.
“We’re working with complete normality and I see Pablo focused and involved,” he said. “Until something reaches me, I have no idea and the club have already said that there’s nothing at the moment.”
Perisic pursued
Yet another midfielder linked to Arsenal is Ivan Perisic. The Daily Mirror claims the Gunners have made contact with Inter Milan and Sky Sports report that he has handed in a transfer request as a result.
Once mooted as a target for Manchester United, the Croatian playmaker could be Arsenal’s for £35m.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Arsenal could face competition from Atletico Madrid. The Spanish club are apparently ready to meet Inter’s asking price this week, whereas Arsenal, because of their financial problems, would want to take Perisic on loan for six months and then discuss a permanent move in the summer.
Ozil swap rejected
The Daily Express says that Arsenal are attempting to persuade Inter to take Mesut Ozil in return for Perisic. The Italians are reluctant to agree to the move, although the Express says a deal could be reached if “Arsenal agree to pay half of his wages”.
There’s no way Inter (or indeed any club) are going to pay the German £350,000 per week, so if Emery does want to be shot of Ozil the club will still have to pay him £175,000 a week.
