As one door slams in Mikel Arteta’s face, has a different window of opportunity just opened for Arsenal?
First the bad news. The Gunners won’t be signing Emerson Royal in the summer transfer window.
After weeks of relentless speculation, Barcelona have opted to take the Brazil international back to Camp Nou after two impressive years on loan at La Liga rivals Real Betis.
But if Emerson has been recalled to fight for a place in Barca’s XI – and that does appear to be the situation – what does that mean for the future of another attack-minded full-back on an Arsenal wish-list longer than the Bayeux Tapestry?
From Barcelona to Arsenal for Dest?
At the weekend, Sport claimed the north London giants had made contact over a deal that would see £23 million speed-machine Sergino Dest leave the Catalan kingdom eight months after the USA international joined forces with former Ajax teammate Frenkie de Jong under the shadows of La Sagrada Familia.
After a promising start to life in Spain, 20-year-old Dest found regular game time hard to come by as Barca slipped out of the La Liga title race. The rampaging right-sider ended his debut season with just 23 starts under his belt.
And with Ronald Koeman’s side up to their retinas in debt, offers for everyone except the untouchable few – the Marc-Andre ter Stegens and De Jongs – will almost certainly be considered.
Hector Bellerin out, Sergino Dest in? It has a ring to it Arsenal fans, don’t you think?
Here’s what some Gooners had to say about the situation on Twitter:
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