A fresh insight into the alleged plans of the transfer team at Premier League giants Arsenal has been provided late on Saturday evening.
The subject of transfer business has taken its place centre stage in the headlines on the red half of north London across the day to date.
Unfortunately for those of a Gunners persuasion, though, this has come for altogether less than positive reasons.
Just 48 hours ago, it was of course widely reported that Arsenal were on the verge of clinching the club’s first signing of the January transfer window.
This came after the transfer team at the Emirates tabled a fresh proposal for long-time target and Shakhtar Donetsk star Mykhailo Mudryk.
In turn, it came as a heavy blow to all associated with Arsenal when, on Saturday afternoon, word was forthcoming that, in fact, Mudryk was headed not only elsewhere, but to a direct London rival.
🚨 Chelsea have reached an agreement with Shakhtar Donetsk for Mykhailo Mudryk. €70m + €30m add-ons. 7+ year contract agreed. Leaving Turkey for London to undergo medical. Not signed yet but done deal. W/ @SJohnsonSport @AdamCrafton_ @TheAthleticFC #CFC https://t.co/LlFyvfQvho
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) January 14, 2023
What next, then, for Arsenal?
It is common knowledge across the English football landscape that Mikel Arteta and co. are desperate to bring in attacking reinforcements this month, amid the club’s surprise ongoing push for the Premier League title.
The assumption therefore remains that, come the close of the month, the powers that be in north London will have added to boss Arteta’s options out wide.
And now, as alluded to above, the identity of one such contender to do so has been revealed.
The info comes courtesy of transfer journalist Gianluigi Longari, who has revealed that Arsenal remain interested in the services of Barcelona winger Raphinha.
Brazilian international Raphinha was of course linked with a move to the Emirates during the summer, before also coming close to joining Chelsea and ultimately landing his dream transfer to Barcelona.
To this point, though, the former Leeds United standout has struggled to find his best form in the Catalan capital.
In turn, Arsenal are understood to have engaged in timid ‘exploratory contacts’ with the Barcelona hierarchy, in a bid to gauge the chances of luring Raphinha away from the Camp Nou just six months on from his arrival.
🚨 #Arsenal #AFC are still interested in #Raphinha from #Barcelona after #Chelsea ‘s Mudryk deal
⬇️ https://t.co/hKchcdbYUp— Gianluigi Longari (@Glongari) January 14, 2023
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