Arsenal’s pursuit of Manchester City players in the upcoming transfer window is facing a hurdle as the Premier League champions are unlikely to be as accommodating as they were last year.
Despite their commendable performance this season, the Gunners have faltered in the final stages, leaving them short of their ultimate goal.
During their impressive early-season run, Arsenal relied heavily on the contributions of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, who joined from Manchester City just over a year ago.
However, The Telegraph reports that City will now hesitate to engage in further dealings with their newfound rivals, recognizing the threat they pose to their domestic supremacy.
This news comes as a disappointment to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who reportedly had his sights set on securing the services of City’s out-of-favor full-back Joao Cancelo.
The Portuguese international was unexpectedly loaned to Bayern Munich in January, but the Bundesliga side, under the guidance of new manager Thomas Tuchel, has shown little interest in making the move permanent.
Arteta had a brief working relationship with Cancelo during his time at City, and he now aims to bolster Arsenal’s squad with a versatile full-back capable of operating on both flanks.
The recent injury to Takehiro Tomiyasu, which has gone somewhat unnoticed in the past weeks, has left a significant void in Arsenal’s defensive line.
The Japanese international underwent knee surgery in March and is unlikely to fully recover in time for the start of the new season.
Consequently, the burden on Zinchenko and Ben White will be further amplified, particularly considering Kieran Tierney’s probable departure.
Arsenal made an attempt to sign Ivan Fresneda from Real Valladolid in January, and they may revive their interest in the young Spaniard this summer.
However, competition for his signature is expected to arise, with Borussia Dortmund also expressing an interest in the talented player.
