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Arsenal transfer target Thomas Meunier breaks silence amid Gunners switch rumours
ARSENAL transfer target Thomas Meunier has expressed his desire to stay at Paris Saint-Germain even if the club do not want him.
Arsenal target Thomas Meunier scores great goal for PSG
Meunier played 22 Ligue 1 games for PSG last season but has one year left on his contract, which is not likely to be extended.
The right-back was brought to Paris during Unai Emery’s stint at Le Parc des Princes and the Spaniard is now keen on reuniting with Meunier in north London.
Arsenal released Stephan Lichtsteiner this summer leaving them with Hector Bellerin, who is recovering from a long-term injury, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, conventionally a midfielder, as right-back options.
Meunier, who earns a reported £53,000 a week at PSG, has revealed his first choice is to stay in the French capital, though.
I will repeat myself again. My ambition is to stay in Paris.
"I will repeat myself again,” the Belgian told RTBF.
“My ambition is to stay in Paris.
"If they want me, that will be even better - we will be hand in hand.
“If they do not want me, then we will find a solution."
Those words days after Meunier’s ostensible openness to leaving on a free next summer, as reported in Le Parisien.
"It's something that could suit me," he admitted.
"I don't think the club would make a lot of money from me, actually.
“I have a market value, but I'm a defender, I play one game out of three and I'm turning 28."
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PSG could risk losing Meunier on a free transfer in 2020 if they do not cash in on him this summer, and Belgian journalist Kristoff Terreur broke down the situation on Sky Sport’s Transfer Talk podcast.
“Unai Emery has been in touch with him a few times because a right-back is a priority at Arsenal,” he confirmed.
"His agent has also had a meeting with Everton too but there has been nothing concrete so we are just waiting.
“PSG want to sell him though for the right price at £20-25 million."