---
title: "Arsenal closing in on deal as club start planning replacements"
canonical: "https://readarsenal.com/2018/05/19/arsenal-closing-in-on-deal-as-club-start-planning-replacements/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ryan Darby"
section: "Articles"
published: "2018-05-19T08:27:30Z"
modified: "2018-05-19T08:27:30Z"
---

# Arsenal closing in on deal as club start planning replacements

Manchester City are preparing a move for Barcelona playmaker Andres Iniesta as a replacement for Mikel Arteta, who is closing in on a move to Arsenal.

[Yahoo](https://uk.news.yahoo.com/barcelona-legend-iniesta-lined-replace-arteta-manchester-city-105413491.html?_guc_consent_skip=1526717975) reports that Pep Guardiola wants to sign the Spanish international on a player-coach deal to replace the departing Arteta.

Iniesta, who will leave Barcelona this summer, is said to be keen on a move to the Premier League, despite deals in China and America also being mooted for the former World Cup winner.

![David Ramos/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/955415028.jpg)

Reports have [stated](https://readarsenal.com/2018/05/18/arsenal-agree-deal-with-arteta/) that a deal between Arteta and Arsenal is all-but agreed, as he prepares to swap life as City’s number two for the Gunners’ number one.

Arteta’s departure will come as a huge blow for City, who were desperate for him to stay at the club.

The former midfielder is rated highly as a coach by Guardiola, who has hailed him for the role he played during their title-winning season.