Arsenal are still looking at signing Sevilla midfielder Steven Nzonzi to further strengthen their side, but are not willing to pay his £30 million release clause.
Arsenal are still looking to make further signings in the summer transfer window with Sevilla midfielder Steven Nzonzi still on their radar. The Sun report that Arsenal want to make a move for the World Cup winner, but will not be willing to pay the full £30 million release clause the 29-year-old has in his contract.
Arsenal feel the amount is excessive given his age and what he could offer the club for the long-term future. Additionally, after seemingly spending their entire transfer budget already, the Gunners are hoping to negotiate a lower sum with the La Liga club.
Nzonzi has been subject of interest from Arsenal for a long time, and the club were linked with signing the player back in January. But, the Frenchman chose to stay put at Sevilla. However, it was reported during the World Cup, that the midfielder expressed his desire to move to a bigger club and Arsenal have seemingly been the only club so far registering a concrete interest in him.
He was linked with a transfer even before the World Cup began, although no move could materialise due to the release clause the player has in his contract. Arsenal ended up signing Uruguay midfielder Lucas Torreira from Sampdoria in a £26 million deal. Unai Emery, however, was believed to be tailing Nzonzi to further beef up midfield.
With Matteo Guendozi still in his formative years, Nzonzi could be a viable short-term acquisition to aid the progress of the youngster. The French World Cup winner has also shown an inkling towards being reunited with his former Sevilla boss at Arsenal, and a move could be on the cards.
Arsenal do not explicitly have any competition so far to sign Nzonzi. But, the fact that they have more or less exhausted their £70 million transfer budget on different signings till date, means that the release clause in the player’s Sevilla contract has become prohibitive.
Nzonzi played an active part from the bench for France as Les Bleus clinched the World Cup in Russia, and feels he could move to a bigger club to prolong his career. Signing for Arsenal would reunite him with a manager under whom he played some of his best football and there is a feeling he could flourish further playing under Emery again.
