Guardiola is my good friend but the player has choosen to join Arsenal and I can’t force him”: Manager responds to Man city eye-watering bid to hijack Arsenal transfer despite player have agreed to join Arteta’s side by January

“Guardiola is a close friend of mine, but the player has chosen to join Arsenal, and I cannot influence his decision,” the manager said regarding Manchester City’s substantial bid to disrupt Arsenal’s transfer plans, even though the player has already agreed to join Arteta’s side by January.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Arsenal is reportedly looking to sign Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran next year.

Since joining Villa Park at the beginning of last year, the Colombian forward has taken some time to adapt but has started this season strongly. Unai Emery has mainly used him as a rotational player, yet he has scored seven goals in just two starts across all competitions, making him Villa’s top scorer this season, surpassing Ollie Watkins.

Fichajes reports that Arsenal, impressed by the 20-year-old’s recent form, is increasingly eager to secure his signature to enhance their attacking options. Duran recently extended his contract with Aston Villa until 2030, but this hasn’t diminished Arsenal’s interest. Emery’s team is in a strong position to demand a significant fee, reportedly setting a price tag of £75 million (€90 million) for him.

While Barcelona has also shown interest in Duran, their financial constraints give Arsenal an edge in this pursuit.

Currently, Arsenal relies on Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus as their main center-forward options, having sold Eddie Nketiah to Crystal Palace over the summer. Havertz has been in excellent form and is now the preferred striker, while Jesus has faced injury challenges that have hindered his performance.

Therefore, acquiring a prolific goal-scorer would be a strategic move to strengthen the attack. Duran is a promising talent who is starting to show his potential, and if he maintains his performance levels, he could be a valuable addition to Arsenal’s lineup.

It will be interesting to see if Arsenal makes a formal bid to sign the South American player ahead of next season.

 

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