Toulouse forward Amine Adli has turned down a move to Premier League giants Arsenal and now looks set to stay in France instead, as reported by Calciomercato.
Well, no one can accuse the Gunners of lacking ambition this year.
After missing out on European football for the first time since the turn of the Century, an already disillusioned Arsenal fanbase might have feared that this would be a summer of scrimping and saving, making do and mending.
Instead, the ever-unpopular Kroenkes have handed Mikel Arteta a transfer budget akin to that of the GDP of a small nation (90Min).
With £250 million burning a hole in his back pocket, the Gunners are hot on the heels of some of Europe’s most exciting talent, from Eduardo Camavinga to Achraf Hakimi, James Maddison to Sambi Lokonga.
Why is Amine Adli rejecting Arsenal?
One player who will not be arriving at London Colney this summer, however, is Adli.
While hardly the most high-profile player to have been linked with Arsenal, make no mistake, this is a player overflowing with potential.
‘Burdened with glorious purpose’, to quote Ian Wright.
The £9 million-rated Adli produced eight goals and eight assists for Toulouse last season, winning the Ligue 2 Player of the Year award for his exploits.
The 21-year-old speed-freak has turned down a contract extension at Toulouse too and, with just 12 months left on his deal, looks set to leave the club who lost to Nantes in May’s relegation play-offs.
According to Calciomercato, however, Arsenal will not be Adli’s destination. He looks set to turn down AC Milan as well, in favour of extending his stay in France.
The former U18 international has recently received an offer from Lille, the newly-crowned Ligue 1 champions.
Given that Lille have a superb track record when it comes to turning exciting young forwards into attacking superstars – selling Eden Hazard to Victor Osimhen, Nicolas Pepe and Rafael Leao for nearly £200 million combined – you can see why Adli would be holding out for a move to the Stade Pierre Mauroy.
Leicester City have also been linked, although you’d assume Adli would reject the Foxes too.
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