Arteta gives update on Arsenal's transfer plans ahead of Deadline Day
Arsenal will not be signing Espanyol striker Raul de Tomas on transfer deadline day. That is according to the Spanish club’s general manager, Jose Maria Duran, who has insisted that the 27-year-old is not for sale at any price.
The Gunners have been desperate to bolster their attack during this transfer window, with Mikel Arteta staring at a thin squad which has failed to score in the past four games.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been frozen out of the first-team picture after being stripped of the captaincy in December.
Arsenal have therefore been exploring their options in the January transfer window, with the scope broadening since Dusan Vlahovic turned down their approach to join Juventus from Fiorentina.
Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak and Alvaro Morata, who is on loan with Juventus from Atletico Madrid, have both been touted as possibilities for the Gunners.
Lille's Jonathan David and Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin have both also been mentioned in reports.
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De Tomas has netted 12 goals in La Liga this season (Image: GETTY)
Another name which has cropped up is De Tomas, who has caught attention by scoring 12 goals in La Liga this season to put him second in the scoring charts, behind only Karim Benzema (17).
Reports in Italy from TV Dello Sport claimed that Arsenal will move for De Tomas in the final hours of the window, should Aubameyang seal his loan switch to Barcelona.
However, that possibility has been blown out of the water by public comments from Espanyol chief Duran today.
“It was a one-off call that we almost didn’t even want to listen to,” he said, according to AS.
“Our position here is clear. We are building a heritage, and we will not let players leave in any way, and less so Raul de Tomas and at this time, in the middle of the season.
“Raul no longer has a clause of €70million, but due to inflation, it is almost €75m. The prices go up, but so do our defences.”
That is yet another blow to Arsenal’s plans and the club now looks likely to end the January transfer window without signing a striker.
The 22-year-old Real Sociedad has a significant buyout clause, understood to be worth around £76m and is happy to continue playing for the Spanish club.