Arsenal hold Sarr talks as Mavropanos exit edges closer
Arsenal hold Sarr talks as Mavropanos exit edges closer
The Gunners are looking to add defensive recruitments during the summer transfer window and are interested in the France Under-21 international
Arsenal have held talks over a move for Malang Sarr – but have yet to table a contract offer to the 21-year-old defender.
Sarr is a free agent having come to the end of his contract with Nice and has several clubs across Europe chasing his signature.
There have been suggestions that the Gunners have made an offer to the France Under-21 international centre-back, but sources close to the player have confirmed to Goal that is not the case.
While there have been discussions, talks with other clubs are far more advanced, with Italian side Torino making a concerted effort to lure Sarr to Turin.
Arsenal are exploring the possibility of bringing in another centre-back during the summer transfer window despite the arrival of William Saliba, who spent last season on loan with Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1.
But with the club’s finances still uncertain given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the north Londoners looking unlikely to qualify for Europe next season, the Gunners are struggling to make any firm commitments regarding contract offers and transfer fees.
And following Wednesday night’s 2-1 win against champions Liverpool, head coach Mikel Arteta was asked whether he would be given the finances to improve his squad this summer.
“I don’t know,” he told Sky Sports. “It’s a big concern.
Mikel Arteta Arsenal
“You need it to build a squad. It’s not magic. You need to improve with quality players in the squad and you need bigger squads to compete in this competition. There’s the challenge.”
Arsenal will wait until the season is completed to make any decisions over possible new arrivals, when they feel they will have more clarity on what sort of money is available and who they might be able to move on to bolster the funds that could be available to Arteta.
The Gunners also hold an interest in Reims centre-back Axel Disasi. They registered their interest in the 22-year-old earlier in the year, but have yet to follow up with an offer for the centre-back, who has also been linked with Wolves and Southampton.
Meanwhile, Konstantinos Mavropanos could soon leave Arsenal – with Werder Bremen and Stuttgart representing two of a host of clubs currently in talks with the north Londoners over a move for the central defender.
Mavropanos has just completed a successful loan spell in Germany where he helped Nurnberg escape relegation from the Bundesliga 2 with some impressive performances during the second half of the campaign.
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Since making the move to Germany’s second tier in January, Mavropanos has made 13 appearances, with his performances catching the eye of several clubs in the country’s top two divisions.
Sven Mislintat, who was the man who first brought Mavropanos to Arsenal in 2017 when he was the Gunners’ head of recruitment, is interested in taking him to Stuttgart, where he is now sporting director.
But Goal has learnt that Werder Bremen, who saved themselves from relegation on the final day of the Bundesliga season, are also interested and have opened talks over a loan move for the 22-year-old.