RAPHINHA & AMADOU ONANA WANTED TO BE GUARANTEED STARTERS TO JOIN ARSENAL BUT THE CLUB COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT

September 6, 2024 JOSHUA ADEJO FOOTBALL 0

FBL-BEL-EURO-2024-PRESSER — Belgium's midfielder #18 Amadou Onana speaks during a press conference of the Belgian national football team also knowns as Red Devils, at the Royal Belgian Football Association's training centre, in Tubize, on March 20, 2024. On March 23, the Red Devils will play a friendly match against Ireland, as part of the preparations for the Euro 2024. (Photo by BRUNO FAHY / Belga / AFP) / Belgium OUT (Photo by BRUNO FAHY/Belga/AFP via Getty Images)

RAPHINHA & AMADOU ONANA WANTED TO BE GUARANTEED STARTERS TO JOIN ARSENAL BUT THE CLUB COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT. Arsenal explored deals for both Barcelona forward Raphinha and Aston Villa defensive midfielder Amadou Onana during the summer transfer, according to Team News and Ticks on Patreon.

However, they both wanted to be guaranteed starters in the team, which was something Arsenal could not offer them.

Team News and Ticks – a Gunners account – famous for leaking team news on the internet and followed by the likes of Dharmesh Sheth, David Ornstein, Fabrizio Romano and Gary Jacobs on X (formerly Twitter), has been a trusted source concerning all things Arsenal for months, and he provided an update on some of the transfers the North London club failed to do last month.

Raphinha has been constantly linked with the Gunners for a while, and the rumours resurfaced some months ago.

Barca were thought to be open to selling the Brazilian to balance the books, but he remains at the club.

Everton sold Onana to Villa in July for around £50 million and the Belgium international has started all their three Premier League games of 2024-25 so far, weighing in with two goals. Arsenal wanted the 23-year-old but his assurance of a spot in their starting XI would have put them off.

He started 23 league games at Everton last term, coming off the bench seven times after falling out of favour under manager Sean Dyche towards the end of the campaign.

Onana would have been a solid addition to the Gunners midfield, but they ended up signing Mikel Merino instead, and the decision-makers at the North London club will argue that the Spaniard is the better player and signing.

Arsenal also brought in England international forward Raheem Sterling on loan from Chelsea after a deal for Raphinha did not materialise.

The Barca star has been in fine form this term, with three goals and two assists to his name in four La Liga games, and the North Londoners would have greatly benefited from the signing of a versatile attacker who notched 17 Premier League goals and 12 assists in two seasons with Leeds.

However, assuring Raphinha of a spot in the starting XI was a demand Arsenal found too much to meet, and manager Mikel Arteta will hope Sterling can deliver the goods going forward.