Arsenal Transfer News Roundup: Gunners not in talks to sign Willian Pacho, club eyeing new left-back, and more - April 19, 2024
Arsenal are preparing to face Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux in the Premier League on Saturday, April 20. Mikel Arteta's team will head into the game on the back of a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League in midweek.
Meanwhile, the Gunners are not planning a move for Willian Pacho this summer. Elsewhere, the north London side are likely to sign a new left-back at the end of the season.
On that note, let's take a look at the major Arsenal transfer news from April 19, 2024.
Arsenal not in talks to sign Willian Pacho, says Fabrizio Romano
Arsenal are not planning a move for Willian Pacho this summer, according to acclaimed journalist Fabrizio Romano.
The Ecuadorian defender has been in fine form for Eintracht Frankfurt this season, registering 39 appearances across competitions, all of which have been starts. His efforts have reportedly turned heads at multiple clubs in the continent, including the Gunners and Liverpool. However, Romano has refuted those claims.
In his column for Caught Offside, the transfer guru also added that the 22-year-old is likely to cost €50-60m this summer.
“Although there have also been stories about Liverpool enquiring about Eintracht’s talented Ecuador defender Willian Pacho, along with Arsenal, I have no concrete updates about specific clubs,” wrote Romano.
“It’s true that Pacho has a price tag of around €50-60m and it looks like an open race for his signature this summer. I’m told nothing is at concrete or advanced stages with English clubs,” he added.
Pacho could be a fine partner for Willian Saliba at the Emirates.
Gunners eyeing new left-back, says Romano
Arsenal could attempt to bring in a new left-back this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Gunners have Oleksandr Zinchenko as their preferred option for the position, but the Ukrainian's future has been subject to speculation in recent times. Meanwhile, Kieran Tierney - currently on loan at Real Sociedad - is apparently no longer part of Mikel Arteta's plans.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Romano insisted that the north London side are yet to shortlist targets for the position.
“It's a possibility. It’s not guaranteed yet because, from what I'm hearing, Arsenal are still waiting to understand what they want to do at the end of the season. They want to see what happens in the Premier League to decide what they want to do regarding investments in different positions, but left-back could be one of the positions to cover,” said Romano.
“This is something they have discussed internally. So, at the moment, we don't have names yet because they don't have a proper decision on who the player they want to sign is. But bringing in a new left-back in the summer transfer window is possible,” he continued.
Zinchenko's contract with the Gunners expires in 2026 and he could be offloaded this summer.
David Ornstein backs Arsenal to consider Mikel Arteta renewal
Arsenal are likely to make a decision on Mikel Arteta's future at the end of this season, according to reputed journalist David Ornstein.
The Spanish manager has transformed the club since taking charge at the Emirates in 2019. His team were close to a Premier League triumph last season and are in the mix once again this campaign.
Arteta's contract with the Gunners expires at the end of next season, and multiple reports have suggested that Barcelona want him to replace Xavi at Camp Nou.
Speaking on the Back Pages podcast, Ornstein insisted that the north London side want the Spaniard to continue at the Emirates.
"There will be a lot of scrutiny over this because Mikel Arteta and Arsenal have spent a great deal of money in the transfer market, making that record move for Declan Rice in particular. But it is still quite embryonic this group in terms of the age profile and their development together, and Mikel Arteta has clearly done a good job over the years at Arsenal,” said Ornstein.
“They'll hope he continues to. He'll be approaching the last 12 months of his own contract, so they're going to have to address that situation. It's progress, of course, because they weren't in this competition in recent seasons. There will be regrets at the mistakes that were made at the lack of potency tonight in particular," he continued.
Mikel Arteta helped Arsenal win the FA Cup in 2020.