With Arsène Wenger seemingly set to wrap-up his second La Liga signing in three January transfer windows, a report in one of Spain’s more prominent sport newspapers suggest he could be after a third…
On Friday, an article in Madrid-based newspaper MARCA – a newspaper famed for its pro-Real Madrid agendas and close ties to the club – suggested that Asier Illarramendi has an offer from Arsenal and Arsène Wenger, but an offer which would see the holding midfielder join the club in the summer as opposed to this January.
Illarramendi, a €32 million signing for Real made in the summer of 2013, has struggled to break through at the Stantiago Bernabéu with the likes of Luka Modrić, Ángel di María, Xabi Alonso, Toni Kroos and even the practically perma-injured Sami Khedira all preferred to the Basque-born midfielder in the frustrating year-and-a-half he’s spent in the Spanish capital.
Earlier in the week, Club Athletic Bilbao – a club who employ a self-imposed policy of only being able to field players born in the region where the club lies, Basques – had reportedly offered Real Madrid a very healthy sum to take Illarramendi off their hands and offered the 24-year-old an opportunity to be the star man, one they hope would kick-start their season
But MARCA believe that Arsenal have thrown a spanner in the works – ‘El dilema de Illarramendi,’ as they put it. They report that Illarramendi has an offer on the table, for the summer, which Illarramendi ‘likes.’ They also report that Arsenal have only made an offer to the player but not Real Madrid, an offer which would presumably be made closer to the summer. MARCA also believe that the player himself prefers Arsenal’s offer to Athletic and the player is willing to wait until the summer to join. You may remember that, prior to joining the ten-times European Cups winners, Illarramendi was linked to Arsenal quite heavily.
Despite those assertions from MARCA, Arsenal fans should not get too excited, maybe the shouldn’t even get excited at all! Kike Marín, once senior editor of the newspaper, has taken to Twitter to rubbish the rumours, alluding to certain tricks of the agency trade which. He believes that Arsenal are simply being used as a decoy, one more than likely to aid in negotiations between player and club(s). We at Read Arsenal are more inclined to trust Kike on this one…
While this rumour may not be true, it would be excellent if it was. Asier Illarramendi is undoubtedly an exceptional talent, a fine holding midfielder, one very much capable of replacing and building upon the solid foundations laid by club captain and fellow Basque, Mikel Arteta. A step back to a club like Arsenal may be exactly what Illarramendi needs. He’s definitely what Arsenal need…
