Arsenal are reportedly weighing up a move to sign Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega, who will be available for £18 million in the winter transfer window
According to a report by The Sun, Arsenal have reignited their interest in Ever Banega, who could be on his way to the Emirates in the January transfer window. The Gunners are scouring the possibility of snapping the Argentine international, who has a buyout clause worth £18 million that can be triggered in the winter.
Banega has proven himself to be one of the finest foreign players on show in La Liga over his stints with Valencia, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, having been one of the most enterprising creative midfielders over the last decade or so. Three of those seasons have been spent with Sevilla, and the 30-year-old has played a key role in Los Nervionenses’ two Europa League triumphs.
However, Banega faces an uncertain future at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, with reports of an impending exit running rampant. Among his prominent suitors, are Arsenal, where Unai Emery has been eager to reunite with the Argentinean midfielder since this past summer.
The Gunners have already considerably bolstered the squad the the Basque coach inherited in the summer, with the transfers including two midfielders. But, both Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi are more defensively minded, with Granit Xhaka being the Arsenal midfielder who provides some creativity.
Aaron Ramsey is a pivotal figure in midfield for Arsenal as well, but the Welshman is facing an uncertain future at the Emirates, with little development over the renewal of a contract that is set to run out at the end of the season. Banega is thus, a viable target who could be a short-term creative solution for the North Londoners.
Emery is already well versed with the qualities of the Sevilla midfielder, managing him in his first two seasons with La Liga outfit Sevilla. And, acquiring him is unlikely to be a tall order for Arsenal, with his buyout clause being worth £18 million, which will hardly be prohibitive for the Gunners.
Arsenal’s head of football to-be Raul Sanllehi, who is set to take over from Ivan Gazidis seems to be open to sanctioning the move as well, and we could see the Premier League heavyweights launch the offensive for Banega when the transfer window reopens in January.
It will now be interesting to see if Emery is able to reunite with the Argentine international, or if the player stays put with the La Liga side till the end of the season.
