Reports in France are claiming that Arsenal failed in an attempt to sign Blaise Matuidi this summer. The midfielder joined Juventus in a reported £27.8 Million deal from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, but is claimed to have rejected ‘advances’ from Arsenal, Manchester United and Man City.
Upon his exit, PSG chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi said: “I will always have great memories of Blaise’s six seasons with our club.
“He is a player who played every match with generosity and a permanent desire to win everything, earning admiration from everyone.
“Blaise will remain in our hearts and he will always be welcome in the big PSG family.
“We wish him every success in his first challenge abroad and every success with the France national team in this World Cup season.”
Matuidi would no doubt have made a big improvement to our starting line-up, but the disappointing thing is that Arsenal failed to bring in another central midfielder despite failing to sign the French international.
We were linked with the likes of Ross Barkley, William Carvalho, Steven N’Zonzi and other midfielders this summer, but only a left-back and a striker were brought into the club.
It angers me at the lack of additions brought into the club, whilst many were allowed to leave, and one of our CM options also left in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Matuidi may have already had other ideas, having been approached by Juve 12 months earlier, but there must have been other midfield targets surely? Which other midfielders would have strengthened our starting line-up?
Pat J