Arsenal have taken their interest in Everton ace Amadou Onana up a notch, with the Gunners keen to wrap up a deal for the highly-rated midfielder this month.
Sacha Tavolieri reports that talks between both clubs have intensified, and the Belgian international is itching to secure a move to the Emirates Stadium.
Since Everton forked out £33 million to snap him up from Lille in the summer of 2022, Onana has established himself as one of the most promising young defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
He can easily be considered Everton’s best investment in recent years, and his stock has soared exponentially over the past season and a half.
Onana boasts a number of skillsets that will come in handy for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and should set up a formidable partnership with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in the middle of the park.
With Thomas Partey’s long-term future in north London still uncertain, Onana could be a like-for-like replacement for the Ghanaian international who has endured an injury-raved campaign thus far.
Onana has been a staple in Everton’s midfield since his arrival at Goodison Park and has maintained his place in the starting line-up under Sean Dyche’s leadership.
Having racked up 49 Premier League appearances with two goals and two assists, the 22-year-old destroyer has plenty of top-flight experience and would slot into the Arsenal midfield seamlessly.
Even though Arsenal are making headway in their pursuit of the Everton ace, the Gunners will struggle to muster a transfer fee given their troubles with the Premier League’s profit & sustainability rules.
They will need to rely heavily on sales before sanctioning any incoming transfers after splashing £200m on squad reinforcement during the summer transfer window.
Emile Smith Rowe is among a number of players that could cut ties with the north London club this winter, with the Englishman struggling for form, fitness, consistency and playing time.
