Arsenal are reportedly set to scupper Everton’s plans of signing M’Baye Niang by submitting a late bid for the AC Milan forward.
According to a report in TransferMarketWeb, Arsenal have rekindled their interest in M’Baye Niang. The Gunners are set to hijack Everton’s bid to sign the AC Milan forward in the summer transfer window by submitting an offer of their own.
Niang has been a journeyman of sorts in his short senior career so far, having had loan spells at Montpellier, Genoa and Watford ever since joining AC Milan in 2012. And having been considered to be one of the most promising young players in Europe, the player has failed to make much of a progress.
2016/17 was yet another season of inconsistent performances for Niang, as he managed a paltry return of just five goals and as many assists in 34 appearances for Milan and Watford combined. However, despite failing to blossom into a world class player, there’s a belief that the 22-year-old can turn his career around.
Hence, clubs continue to circle around the player, with Everton touted to be the favourites to land him this summer, as per widespread reports. Ronald Koeman is eager to build a squad that can challenge for the Top 4 in the Premier League, and is set to sanction a spending spree in order to do so.
The Toffees have already secured the services of Davy Klaassen and Jordan Pickford, and Niang is reportedly next on their wishlist. The interest in the Frenchman doesn’t come as a surprise as Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku are heavily linked with a summer exit from the club.
Additionally, Yannick Bolasie is still a long way off regaining fitness following knee injury, meaning Koeman has an urgent need to make reinforcements in attack in the summer transfer window.
Arsenal, though, are set to provide stiff competition to their fellow Premier League club in the race to sign the 22-year-old. The Gunners, themselves, are in a precarious situation currently with several first team players like Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Lucas Perez linked with a move away from the Emirates.
With the club harbouring the objective to regain their status in the Champions League, Arsene Wenger is keen to make improvements to his squad. Attack is one of the priorities for the Arsenal manager, with the aforementioned players reportedly on the brink.
Hence, Niang is being considered for a move, and Arsenal are ready to steal a march on Everton. The player does not seem to be in Vincenzo Montella’s plans for next season as Milan are set to indulge in a spending spree this summer to rebuild the first-team squad.
A move to either Premier League side will, thus, provide the player with the opportunity to resurrect his career in England while also testing his mettle in the Europa League. It now remains to be seen which of his previous suitors are able to secure his services having previously faced disappointment in their attempts to sign him.
