“If he choose Arsenal over Man City, I’ll resign as a football coach…He’s the player we can’t afford to see him playing for them, they may become undefeatable with him”: Pep Guardiola angered by World-class player’s decision to join Arsenal as Man City increases bid to convince him from Arsenal transfer
Arsenal continue on a upward trajectory under Mikel Arteta, already reportedly eyeing key additions to strengthen the squad in 2025.
Reports from CaughtOffside suggest that Bournemouth duo Antoine Semenyo and Milos Kerkez are on the Gunners’ radar, both valued at approximately €80 million.
With the potential departures of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney, the club may also need to offload players like Jakub Kiwior to make room for another left-back, given Riccardo Calafiori has just arrived and the returning Jurrien Timber is also an option there.
The club’s ambitions are clear: after coming close to winning the Premier League title in the last two seasons, this could be the year they finally clinch the trophy. With Manchester City not at their best and key player Rodri out for the remainder of the season, Arsenal finds itself in a prime position.
After holding back somewhat on spending in the summer, they should have the resources required to enable them to dip into the market in January if they feel appropriate.
According to the report, Semenyo is viewed as a potential backup for the irreplaceable Bukayo Saka, while Kerkez could provide an alternate option at left-back.
Acquiring Semenyo (24) and Kerkez (20) would not come cheap, with Bournemouth’s €80 million valuation presenting a significant hurdle. Arsenal’s transfer strategy will require astute negotiation as whilst both players are young and Premier League experienced, they aren’t ‘level raisers’ as such.
It would not be surprising to see Arsenal dip into the Premier League market though, considering it’s one they have frequently shopped in before. The successes of the likes of Ben White, Leandro Trossard, Declan Rice and David Raya are testament to the fact that sometimes it is worth investing the extra money in buying from the league.
