According to Spanish news outlet, Don Balon, Ousmane Dembele wishes to continue fighting for his place in the Barcelona lineup and no offers from any of the interested parties will be entertained in the summer window. This will come as a blow to Arsenal’s transfer plans who were looking to capitalize on the situation by giving the French international an escape.
Dembele is one of the brightest prospects in Europe whose future is predicted to be filled with trophies and individual honours. However, by the looks of his first season with the Catalan giants, that promise might just have been pushed back for a later time.
The 20-year-old was brought to the Camp Nou from Borussia Dortmund for £135.5m as Neymar’s replacement. However, the winger has found it hard to adjust to the high standards of the La Liga giants mostly due to his time away from the pitch.
He fell to a hamstring in the early stages of the season which saw him miss all the crucial fixtures. He is back to full fitness but was left on the bench for the Champions League Round of 16 tie against Chelsea and in the 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid on the weekend.
These are not promising signs for an ambitious player like Dembele but for the time, a guaranteed judgement cannot be passed over his future. While he bides his time with the Spanish outfit, Arsene Wenger needs to find a replacement to complete the team’s attacking lineup.
The North London club are in the market for a winger after the departure of both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott over the past 2 transfer window. Wenger has been at the end of heavy
Here are a few candidates Arsenal should consider for the upcoming summer.
Lorenzo Insigne
Standing at just 5 feet 4 inches tall, the Napoli man is one of the agilest players in world football. His short structure allows him to weave his way through the opposition defence and take on defenders on the flanks. Scintillating pace and a low centre of gravity make him one of the hardest players to get off the ball.
He has been linked with a move to Arsenal in recent times and it is time for the French manager to seriously consider making an offer.
Christian Pulisic
Pulisic is already a first team regular in the USA national team and in the Borussia Dortmund lineup. Blessed with blinding pace of the wings, the Pennsylvania-born attacker is a prolific talent and currently displaying promises of future stardom.
Liverpool have been hot on his heels since January but Arsenal can make a serious offer. If they were prepared to bid heavy for Dembele, Pulisic might come at a cheaper rate.
Richarlison
The Watford wide man has hit the ground running on his arrival to the Premier League this season. He is just 20 and is developing into an able professional with heaps of talents under his belt. However, Wenger is expected to face heavy resistance from the Hornets unless a sizeable bid is put on the table.
