Arsenal are reportedly open to allowing Aaron Ramsey join Juventus this month, provided the Italian champions send Medhi Benatia the other way.
As per a report from Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t The Sun), Arsenal are willing to sanction Aaron Ramsey’s sale to Juventus in the January transfer window, if the Serie A champions include defender Medhi Benatia in a potential swap deal.
Ramsey is in the final year of his current contract with Arsenal and has made clear of his desires to leave the club at the end of the season, after negotiations over a new deal fell through. His availability had peaked the interest of several clubs across Europe, with the likes of Bayern Munich, Chelsea, PSG all monitoring the situation.
However, Juventus have emerged as the front-runners to land the 28-year-old Ramsey next summer. Reports earlier this week claimed that the Wales international had signed a pre-contract agreement over a €5 million-a-year deal with the Bianconeri that would run till 2024.
As per latest reports though, Arsenal are believed to willing to allow the midfielder to complete the transfer to Turin in the ongoing transfer window itself, provided Juventus throw in Moroccan centre-half Medhi Benatia as part of the deal.
The Gunners have once again struggled in defence, despite making an impressive start to life under new manager Unai Emery. A season-ending injury to Rob Holding, coupled with intermittent fitness issues for the likes of Konstantinos Mavropanos and captain Laurent Koscielny have been a problem for Arsenal this term.
To add to that, Shkodran Mustafi has once again struggled to perform consistently, while summer signing Sokratis Papastathopoulos has also blown hot and cold over the first half of the season.
This has left Emery searching for defensive reinforcements in the ongoing transfer window, as they look to make a concerted push for a top-four finish in the Premier League. A move for Torino’s Nicolas Nkoulou had been mooted recently, but Arsenal are hoping to convince Juventus to part with Benatia this month.
The 31-year-old centre-half hasn’t played for the Serie A champions since November, with Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Daniele Rugani ahead of him in the pecking order at the club. So far this term, Benatia has taken the field on just six occasions and has previously hinted that he will consider an exit in January, should his playing time do not improve.
A vastly experienced player, who has won multiple titles with Bayern Munich and Juventus, Benatia is exactly the kind of addition that Arsenal are seeking. The 31-year-old would add more steel to their vulnerable defence and provide a leadership presence on the field.
With Juventus and Ramsey keen on joining hands and Benatia not happy with his current situation in Italy, all parties stand to gain from a potential swap deal in the ongoing transfer window. It remains to be seen, however, if Arsenal are able to convince the Italian outfit to go through with the transfer.
