The Sun claimed in February that Unai Emery’s Arsenal were the favourites to sign Wan-Bissaka from Premier League neighbours Crystal Palace.
In an ideal world, Arsenal would be preparing for a return to the Champions League, polishing their Europa League trophy and preparing to spend big to reinforce a talented yet misfit squad.
The harsh reality, however, dictates that a 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in Baku has consigned the Gunners to yet another season outside of Europe’s premiere club competition.
And the finances have been hit hard as a result. As reported by Goal, Unai Emery has just £45 million to spend on new players this summer, meaning the former PSG boss has an almost impossible task as he looks to drag Arsenal back to their early noughties peak.
With Emery forced to operate on a relative shoestring budget, Arsenal simply cannot afford some of Europe’s most exciting talents this summer – including Crystal Palace right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The Sun claimed in February that Arsenal were the favourites to sign the Croydon-born 21-year-old but their hopes now are all but dead.
At least, that is the view of Gunners legend Charlie Nicholas.
“My club Arsenal is slow again in the market, I don’t like the way they’re going about it,” Nicholas told Sky Sports (18 June, 10am). “They’re talking about a lot of good, young defenders that they’re interested in. Arsenal need to start getting into the market.
“I’m seeing now about [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka for £50million to Manchester United – Arsenal can’t afford that, we don’t have the finances.”
According to Sky, Manchester United have seen a £50 million bid rejected by Crystal Palace with the youngster’s price tag going through the roof.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, he stopped being a realistic target as soon as Eden Hazard put them to the sword in Azerbaijan.
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