Arsenal may be starting their summer transfer plans now – and a few rumours would surely leave one club absolutely sick of hearing about the Gunners.
Edu needs to bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad for next season, with the Gunners currently sat 10 points off Champions League football and seven points off Europa League qualification.
Finding the money to strength won’t be easy, and Arsenal have some areas they seemingly need to strengthen; right back, central midfielder and attacking midfield are three of them.
Hector Bellerin’s future is unclear whilst Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard are both heading back to Real Madrid at the end of their loan deals as things stand.
Edu will be looking for players in those positions, and it seems that he has settled on Real Betis as a team who have the players that Arsenal need to fulfil their desires.
Mundo Deportivo claim that Arsenal want to sign Betis right back Emerson, and the La Liga club have little control. Barcelona can re-sign the Brazilian this summer and just sell him on without Betis having a say, though they will earn a hefty percentage of the eventual fee if Barca do sell him.
Emerson has been compared to Dani Alves having shown pace and attacking ability from right back, and he looks ideal for the Gunners, leaving Betis to gradually come to terms with the idea that Emerson will be leaving this summer.
Mundo Deportivo also report that Arsenal have picked out Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez as the man to firm up their engine room, having been impressed with the combative Argentinian during his time in Spain.
Rodriguez has a release clause of more than €80million (£69million), and Betis would hate to lose such a key part of their midfield, with fans urging Betis not to sell unless Arsenal come and pay that huge fee.
As if targeting two Betis players wasn’t enough, Arsenal are also eyeing a third; Goal report that Betis playmaker Nabil Fekir is emerging as a leading candidate to join the Gunners if they can’t bring Odegaard back for next season.
The Frenchman has picked up three goals and six assists this season, and losing him would leave a major gap in the Betis side given how he has been working behind Borja Iglesias.
Betis can’t really control the Emerson situation, but then seeing Rodriguez and Fekir follow to Arsenal would rip key players out of their side, and they would then have to see them feature together elsewhere.
That would hurt the Andalusian side, and Los Verdiblancos are no doubt sick of hearing about Arsenal wanting to sign their players as they attempt to lock down a Europa League spot for next term.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
