The agent of PSV midfielder and former Arsenal target Ibrahim Sangare has made an interesting revelation on his client and the north London side.
Speaking to De Telegraaf, agent Jean Musampa claimed that Arsenal presented him and Sangare over 300 pages of analysis and data they had collected on the-then Toulouse midfielder.
The Gunners were one of the many clubs linked with the 11-time Ivory Coast international. However, despite Arsenal doing huge amounts of research on Sangare last year, Mikel Arteta instead opted to sign Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid.
The transfer of Sangare to PSV surprised many supporters and pundits. The 23-year-old midfielder was regarded as one of the top talents emerging from Ligue 1. And with Toulouse being relegated from the top-flight, a bargain was there to be had.
Yet it was the Dutch side who won the frantic race for the Ivorian. But according to his agent, Arsenal made a convincing case to lure Sangare to the Premier League. Musampa said: “At Toulouse, he was on the radar of a lot of clubs.
“They come naturally. I got an invitation from Arsenal. There they had three hundred pages of analysis and data of his game. Thomas Partey, however, was the first choice.”
Arsenal could return to Sangare following revelation from agent
Indeed, these comments are an interesting look behind the curtain of how intensive Arsenal scout players under Arteta’s management. This summer has shown that the Basque manager has a clear plan for who he wants to recruit to the club.
And Sangare would have fitted Arteta’s profile perfectly. At 23, the midfielder remains one of the most exciting names in European football. And Arsenal could well return for the Ivory Coast international should Mohamed Elneny or Ainsley Maitland-Niles depart the club in the coming year.
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