Arsenal’s hopes of bringing in Italian international Nicolo Barella as a replacement for Juventus bound Aaron Ramsey is likely to be over even before the summer transfer window kicks off. Aaron Ramsey signed a pre- contract agreement with the Italian champions and he’s expected to join them in the summer which leaves Arsenal in need of a replacement.
The Gunners have the linked with moves for Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella and AC Milan’s Franck Kessie with the former seen as the ideal replacement for the departing Welshman.
However, according to the Mirror, Unai Emery will not be able to sign the Italy international who scored his first goal for his country in the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Finland last Saturday because of the price tag that has been placed on him by his club.
His £43million valuation is a lot to ask of a club limited to loan deals in the January window because of their lack of available cash. Indeed, Arsenal’s top brass are unwilling to sanction splashing out that sort of fee on one player this summer unless they have made it back into the money-spinning world of European football’s top club competition, either with a top-four finish or as Europa League winners.
They hope to boost their finances by offloading perceived dead wood such as Mohamed Elneny and Calum Chambers, while Shkodran Mustafi could also be sold.
The wage bill will also come down with Ramsey leaving, Petr Cech retiring and Danny Welbeck, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Carl Jenkinson and Nacho Monreal all out of contract.
However, another season out of the Champions League would be a big financial blow and have a major impact on Emery’s summer transfer budget. Arsenal signed Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez on loan in January but he has failed to impress, and the club are unlikely to take up their option to make it permanent.
The Gunners are paying the 25-year-old’s wages in full but he has yet to even start a match for them, making only six substitute appearances.
Their London rivals Chelsea wanted Barella to replace Cesc Fabregas in January when he left for Monaco, but the player decided to stay in Italy. Cagliari’s Serie A rivals AC Milan and Napoli are also interested in him.
Arsenal are fourth in the Premier League with eight games left as the season resumes this weekend after the international break, two points above Manchester United and three ahead of Chelsea, with a Europa League quarter-final against Napoli to come.