In this instalment of our Transfer Roundup, Football Transfer Tavern have gathered three of the biggest stories to have involved Arsenal recently and have provided our thoughts on the reports published.
Arsenal reportedly interested in Donyell Malen return
Arsenal are reportedly keeping tabs on one of their former strikers – Dutch starlet Donyell Malen. According to the Daily Mirror, Malen is rated at £50m and the Gunners are interested in bringing him back to the Emirates Stadium just two years after selling the 20-year-old to PSV.
However, the Daily Mirror suggests as many as 45 clubs are in the hunt for the Dutchman’s signature.
Verdict
If the reports are to be believed, it seems as if Arsenal are prepared to admit they made a mistake in letting Malen go by having to stump up a large amount of cash to tempt him back to north London.
But with the current form of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and other young strikers such as Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli currently tied to the club, perhaps it is unlikely the Gunners would be willing to splash out on Malen at this time.
Arsenal and Juventus in battle for Thomas Meunier
Reports from both Fichajes and Calciomercato are linking Arsenal with a move for Paris Saint-Germain full-back Thomas Meunier, with Italian giants Juventus also interested in the Belgian defender.
Meunier’s contract is thought to expire next summer, and the Gunners are said to be interested in a free transfer despite Juventus seeing him as a replacement Joao Cancelo, who recently joined Manchester City.
Verdict
Arsenal’s need for another right-back is arguably obvious, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles deputising in that position for some time in the absence of Hector Bellerin.
Meunier would certainly beef up that position for the Gunners, but could have to choose between working with his former manager Unai Emery over joining the Italian champions, which may leave his destiny out of Arsenal’s hands.
Shkodran Mustafi open to ‘next steps’
Shkodran Mustafi has suggested that he is ‘open to take the next step’ after falling out of favour under Unai Emery at Arsenal.
Mustafi only made his first appearance of the season in the Europa League last week, with the likes of David Luiz and Calum Chambers being gifted first-team chances ahead of him.
According to TalkSPORT, the former Valencia defender has insisted he will not ‘go to war’ with the manager over the decision to drop him, despite becoming the Gunners’ fourth-choice centre-back.
Verdict
It seems clear that Mustafi is not in the manager’s long-term plans, having gone from first-team regular to reserve player within the duration of the summer.
And while his insistence to stick around at Arsenal is admirable, perhaps the writing is on the wall with regards to the German’s Gunners future.
Arsenal fans, what are your thoughts on these links? Would you move for Malen or Meunier? Let us know in the comments below!
