Mikel Arteta is personally a big admirer of Arsenal’s latest transfer target.
At least, that’s the report coming out of Spain this afternoon.
After missing Mykhailo Mudryk, Arsenal have been forced to look at alternative players before the January transfer window shuts.
One of those is now Barcelona’s Raphinha, who was linked with a transfer to the Gunners last summer.
But with his career at Camp Nou not entirely going to plan as of yet, a return to the Premier League – a division where he scored 17 goals with Leeds United – has been mooted.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Raphinha is content with life in Spain.
But Sport have reported today that Arteta is a fan of the former Leeds winger and that Arsenal are prepared to wait to sign him next summer, if a winter move doesn’t materialise.
Earlier today, the same publication reported via HITC Sport that the North Londoners wanted Raphinha ‘at all costs’.
Signing a winger is clearly quite important for Arsenal.
Yes, they have Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, but the depth is something of a concern and with Arteta’s side boasting an eight-point lead in the Premier League table, now isn’t the time to be frugal.
Whether they stump up the £88 million needed to sign Raphinha, however, is another question entirely.
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