Deal close – Arsenal finally agree terms with £173,000 a week man – agreement has been in place since last week – Club official announcement today

Arsenal is reportedly in talks with Everton regarding a possible transfer of Amadou Onana. According to the Liverpool Echo, Everton is open to selling the midfielder if they receive an offer of £50 million.

Amadou Onana, a 22-year-old midfielder, joined Everton from the French club LOSC Lille in 2022 for £33 million. Since then, he has become an essential player for Everton, appearing in 72 matches and participating in 63 out of 76 Premier League games since his arrival.

Currently, Onana is representing Belgium in the European Championships. He is expected to play a significant role for his national team and is likely to start in their opening match against Slovakia at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt on Monday night. Despite having only 13 international caps, Onana has played in all four of Belgium’s friendly matches this year. His performances in the tournament could further increase his value.

Arsenal has shown interest in Onana for some time. The Liverpool Echo reports that Arsenal has now contacted Everton to discuss the terms of a potential deal. Everton is reportedly ready to consider offers of £50 million for the Belgian international. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, however, notes that no formal negotiations have begun yet, although Everton is expecting bids due to Arsenal’s interest.

Everton’s financial situation may necessitate selling key players like Onana. The club was recently penalized eight points for violating Profitability and Sustainability rules, a penalty that was initially set at 12 points before an appeal reduced it. This financial strain may force Everton to sell important players, with Jarrad Branthwaite also rumored to be on the market.

For Arsenal, acquiring Onana makes strategic sense. The midfield is an area that manager Mikel Arteta is likely to focus on improving this summer. Mohamed Elneny’s contract is expiring, Albert Sambi Lokonga has expressed his desire to leave, and Thomas Partey’s frequent injuries have limited his contributions, as he started only ten matches last season. Consequently, Arsenal may consider offers for Partey, potentially from Saudi clubs or other interested parties.

This situation leaves Arsenal with only Declan Rice and the 32-year-old Jorginho, who has extended his contract but may not be a reliable starter for every game due to his age. Therefore, Arsenal needs at least one, if not two, new midfielders this summer. Onana appears to be an excellent and feasible option, offering a younger and more consistently available alternative to Partey. Additionally, Everton’s financial difficulties might make Onana a relatively affordable acquisition.

In recent years, Arsenal has shown a preference for signing players from within the Premier League, a practice they avoided for over a decade. Recent signings include David Raya, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jorginho, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Benjamin White, and Aaron Ramsdale. Onana could potentially be the next player to join this list.