Arsenal have been damaged by the loss of Mykhailo Mudryk in the January transfer window. The Gunners’ top target was swiftly snapped up by Chelsea have a lengthy negotiation with Shakhtar Donetsk not only ended the club’s hopes of acquiring their preferable winger, but it has damaged the market in the time that remains.
Reportedly Arsenal target Moussa Diaby is being quoted at the €100million (£88.4million) mark because clubs feel if Shakhtar were able to get this amount for Mudryk why shouldn’t they get top price for their own star. Therefore, sporting director Edu is having internal discussions with Mikel Arteta and his recruitment team to work out where to turn next.
The Gunners have reacted well to missing out on previous primary targets. The hope will be they can repeat these achievements once again before the window closes.
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To navigate this tricky end to the winter window Arsenal need to be smart and perhaps draw on a strategy from the past to secure the talent they need. In 2020, Edu notified La Liga that the club would be activating the release clause of Thomas Partey.
This would be a decision that would anger and frustrate Atletico Madrid, but the Ghanaian came willingly to north London. Atletico signed Geoffrey Kondogbia beyond the end of the window thanks to a rule in Spain that has also seen Martin Braithwaite join Barcelona from Leganes.
Nearly three years on from the Partey deal and La Liga headquarters has the potential to get another visit from the Gunners should they choose to follow this potential target. Athletic Club winger Nico Williams has a €50million (£43.7million) reported release clause according to Goal.
The 20-year-old has caught the eye of many in both Spain and beyond earning him a call-up to the 2022 World Cup. His brother, Inaki Williams, represented Ghana at the tournament and plays with his sibling in Bilbao.
Williams has seven goal contributions in 17 La Liga appearances with three goals and four assists. He can play on either flank, possesses lightning pace, and great ball control and loves to pull off a trick successfully so could be described as having the flair to ace a video compilation.
He remains raw in certain aspects of his game but would join a group of players only slightly older at Arsenal all still developing. Mikel Arteta has shown a real gift regarding the improvement of wingers under his tenure and Williams could surely follow suit whilst providing competition to both Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.
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