Arsenal reportedly have Villarreal playmaker Pablo Fornals in their sights, with Unai Emery keen on bolstering his midfield in the January transfer window.
According to a report by The Sun, there could be a new addition to the Arsenal squad, with Unai Emery targetting Villarreal midfielder Pablo Fornals. The Spanish playmaker has a £17.8 million release clause in his contract with the La Liga outfit, which the Gunners are ready to meet.
The 2018-19 season has been one of struggles so far for Villarreal, who have failed to build on a fifth-placed finish last term. After the first 12 matchdays of the current campaign, the Yellow Submarine find themselves in a relegation battle, sitting just a point outside the drop zone.
However, one shining light in their struggling endeavour this season has been Spanish playmaker Pablo Fornals, who has been impressive enough for them to earn two caps for the national side. However, at a relatively young age and with plenty of potential in him, there could be more chances with the national team in the future, if he is to move to a bigger club.
That big club could be Arsenal, who were once interested in the midfielder during his time at Malaga, and are prepared to meet the midfielder’s release clause, which is reported to be valued at £17.8 million. Considering the astonishing transfer fees in the market, this could be a steal for the Gunners.
Arsenal, under Unai Emery, have seemingly steadied their midfield, something which was seen faltering during Arsene Wenger’s last few seasons. With Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka holding the fort for the Gunners, Emery feels there could be another addition made in January to improve his side’s fortunes further.
Despite the impressive midfield displays, Arsenal do have their share of problems with players in the area. Aaron Ramsey is set to depart from the Emirates, either in January or next summer, with a number of clubs interested in signing him on the cheap. Unai Emery is thus, keen to find a solution to fill the void that the Welshman would leave.
However, Arsenal are being pegged back by their lack of financial might. However, it is understood that Emery is willing to sell Mohamed Elneny for around £15 million to fund a move for Fornals. Elneny has featured for the club sparingly and is yet to play a single minute in the Gunners’ Premier League campaign this year, having his time restricted to cup competitions.
Arsenal might thus, feel confident of getting their man, possibly in January, for Villarreal are not doing well in La Liga. Additionally, for the Spanish side, this could also mean a chance to cash in on the midfielder and re-invest the money elsewhere. For Fornals, a move to the Emirates could mean a step up in his career.
The possible signing of Fornals would signal Emery’s ambition for the future of the club, after his initial success with summer signing Lucas Torreira. Fornals would represent a good addition, especially for the price he is available at, and it remains to be seen if Arsenal are able to complete a January move for the Spanish playmaker.
