Arsenal In Battle To Sign £43.5m La Liga Star As Emery Continues Squad Overhaul

The transfer window is closed but managers are planning ahead for January and next summer so we’ll bring you all the latest gossip. Today, Arsenal are linked with Real Betis defender Junior Firpo….

Arsenal are facing a fierce battle with Premier League champions Manchester City over the signing of £43.5m-rated Real Betis defender Junior Firpo, according to Spanish outlet AS.

The 22-year-old has emerged as one of the hottest young talents in Spanish football since breaking in to the Real Betis first team this season having progressed through their youth ranks and he’s started in all but one of their 12 La Liga games so far this campaign.

Firpo was born in the Dominican Republic but has represented Spain at U21 level and he’s alerted a number of top clubs with his performances this season with the young left-back scoring during Betis’s stunning 4-3 win over Barcelona at the Nou Camp last weekend.

Spanish outlet AS claims Arsenal have registered their interest in signing Firpo ahead of a potential move either this winter or at the end of the season as Unai Emery continues to overhaul his squad at the Emirates.

The former Sevilla boss has enjoyed an encouraging start to life in north London since replacing Arsene Wenger back in the summer but there is plenty of work left to do and a new left-back appears to be on the agenda.

Sead Kolasinac has been inconsistent since joining the club on a free transfer at the start of last season and has seen his progress hampered by a number of injury problems so it remains to be seen whether Emery sees the Bosnian international as his long-term solution.

Monreal replacement?

Nacho Monreal has been a dependable figure for Arsenal in recent years but his contract expires at the end of the season and at 32, he may be allowed to leave on a free next summer with a move back to Spain touted in recent months.

A replacement is therefore on the cards and it seems Arsenal have identified Firpo as a potential candidate but we’ll face stiff competition as AS claims that Manchester City are also showing a strong interest in the player.

Pep Guardiola has been critical of Benjamin Mendy at times this season so the City boss may be on the look out for a replacement and the defending Premier League champions would be considered favourites to land Firpo if he decides to leave Betis.

Not only do City have a financial advantage over Arsenal which would make it easy for them to afford Firpo’s £43.5m release clause, but Guardiola’s brother, Pere, is the left-back’s agent so that will put them firmly in the driving seat for his signature.