The transfer window was closed when the clocks struck 11 on transfer deadline day; and it means there have been no sales out of the Emirates for January 2017. The Gunners have had just Cohen Brammal join the squad earlier in the month, whilst a number of players have left on loan.
There was one player who was set to leave the Emirates permanently by the end of the transfer window however, with right back Carl Jenkinson a firm favourite to secure a move to fellow Premier League side Crytsal Palace. The two clubs had reportedly agreed a fee earlier in the month, with reports suggesting anywhere between £4-7 million being the figure. It’s not a bad price for a player who remains out of favour at the Emirates, despite the strong passion and boyhood love Jenko has for the Gunners.
With the transfer fee agreed and Wenger perfectly happy to let the defender leave, all seemed set in stone for Jenkinson to join Sam Allerdyce’s side. However the deal stalled on personal terms, before the latest reports suggest discussions have broken down completely. It’s understood that Jenkinson was offered around £35,000 per week at Palace, a similar deal to what he currently earns at Arsenal. Jenkinson was supposedly in two minds over the transfer, but a report in today’s Metro, suggests that Palace’s wage offer to January signing Jeffrey Schlupp’s weekly payment, was enough to stall talks between all parties.
Palace signed Schlupp from Leicester City earlier on this January, with the player reportedly earning around £56,000 per week. Jenkinson was reportedly surprised at such a high figure, considering he’d supposedly asked for a higher wage when he was first notified of Palace’s interest by Arsenal. Given that the South Londoners have now also signed former Sunderland man, Van Aanholt, in a rumoured £14 million move, it seems unlikely as if Jenkinson’s transfer will still take place.
With Jenkinson thus likely to remain with the Gunners at least until the end of the season, it poses the question as to how much game time the defender is likely to see. With neither Debuchy or Jenkinson leaving this Janaury, it means there is still adequate backup for first choice Hector Bellerin. However, besides from the times in which Bellerin is injured or suspended, i wouldn’t expect to see or hear too much from the two backup squad players. Jenkinson may now be limited to the odd appearance here and there in a cup competition, but don’t expect to see too much of the player, given that Arsene Wenger seemed perfectly content with letting him leave this window.
By AH