Work permit prevented Arsenal from signing Hamza Mendyl
Arsenal reportedly missed out on the signing of defender Hamza Mendyl from Lille this summer.
Goal reports that the defender was almost set to join the Gunners but work permit regulations prevented a deal from going ahead and the player opted to join Schalke.
The club’s sporting director, Christian Heidel has even confirmed that he believed the player was heading to London.
When quizzed about Arsenal’s interest, Heidel explained the paperwork situation favoured the Bundesliga club.
I think otherwise he would have gone to Arsenal.
Mendyl was widely expected to leave Lille this summer, with the Morrocan international earning plenty of admirers around European football.
The young defender made 13 league appearances in France last season and impressed when given the chance.
The Gunners were in the market to strengthen defensively this summer, signing Sokratis from Borussia Dortmund.
Unai Emery’s men were also heavily linked with Caglar Soyuncu, who joined Leicester City in the final stages of the transfer window.