Arsenal are reportedly among the clubs to have shown an interest in signing defender Aymeric Laporte. The centre-back is keen to leave Al-Nassr this summer, though the Saudi Pro League outfit are demanding a fee to part ways with the Spaniard.
Mikel Arteta’s side are keen to shake up his ranks this summer and are plotting several marquee arrivals, with reinforcements being eyed at both ends of the pitch. The Gunners are keen to bring in a top-quality striker to lead the line for the club next season, as well as a second-choice goalkeeper.
Signings in midfield and in defence are also not being ruled out, and the latter now appears to be a consideration in north London. According to AS, Arsenal have ‘called’ to register an interest in signing Al-Nassr’s wantaway star Laporte.
Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, Aston Villa and Italian outfits Napoli and Inter Milan are also cited as other outfits who are monitoring the 31-year-old’s situation closely in the hope of pouncing on the transfer opportunity.
Laporte has just one year left on his contract in the Middle East and thus any deal is not likely to prove substantial. However, all may not be what it seems if suitors feel they could look to strike and welcome the ex-Manchester City star to their ranks in a cut-price agreement.
Upon joining Al-Nassr, Laporte penned a £390,000-a-week contract to make him the third-highest paid defender in the world – with his wages only reportedly being trumped by Virgil van Dijk’s new contract at Liverpool and ex-Chelsea star Kalidou Koulibaly at Al Hilal.
If Laporte is hoping to secure a move back to Europe this summer then he may be forced to take a significant pay reduction. The Gunners have a strict pay structure in place at present and forking out a major contract to an aging star could certainly upset some of their current key players who are on lesser wages at present.
The club have extended Gabriel’s contract recently and are currently locked in negotiations to extend the current deals of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Bukayo Saka and William Saliba – who are all viewed as being three key players for the Gunners for many years to come.