Arsenal are now pushing to sign Amadou Onana from Everton (Getty)
Arsenal are in talks with Everton to sign Amadou Onana in the January transfer window, according to reports in Belgium.
Mikel Arteta has been looking to improve his midfield options before the end of the window and Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz had been identified as the Gunners’ top target.
However, Villa are likely to command a high price for the in-form Brazilian as he still has over two years remaining on his current contract.
Onana represents an alternative option for Arsenal and according to multiple sources in Belgium, including Sacha Tavolieri and Nieuwsblad Sport, the Gunners are currently in talks with Everton over a move for the 22-year-old.
Tavolieri clams that Onana is ‘keen on the move’ to Arsenal and an agreement could be reached quickly.
Manchester United had also held negotiations over a deal for Onana last summer and Everton, who were hit by a 10-point deduction in November for breaching the Premier League’s financial rules, were holding out for a £50m transfer fee.
Amadou Onana also attracted strong interest from Manchester United last summer (AFP via Getty)
The Belgium international is currently in his second season with Everton after he was signed in a £33 million deal from Lille in August 2022.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are also under pressure to recruit a new striker after they failed to find the target in their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday.
However, Arteta moved to play down Arsenal’s chances of signing a forward before the end of the season.
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‘At the moment, it doesn’t look realistic,’ Arteta said.
‘What my job is and what we have to do is improve our players and try to get somewhere with the players we have and get better results.
‘One thing is what we need and another is what we can do. What we can do is stick behind those players and make sure we stick behind those players.’
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