Arsenal transfer round-up: Arteta gives Ozil update, Zaha vs Pepe deal explained

Published on: 16 January 2021

Arsenal have yet to make an impact in the current transfer window but could end up being involved in the biggest one this year.

Mesut Ozil has been strongly linked with a move away with Fenerbahce desperate to snap up the playmaker.

The German is keen on that, as well, and Mikel Arteta has given an update on his progress.

Meanwhile, talk over Wilfried Zaha's move to Arsenal in 2019 has returned after the Ivorian opened up over how Unai Emery tried to sign him.

Instead, the Gunners snapped up Nicolas Pepe from Lille for a club-record fee of £72m but it has not quite worked out for the forward.

Here is all the latest Arsenal gossip and transfer rumours.

Arteta's Ozil update

Arsenal coach Arteta has played down reports that Ozil's long-awaited departure from the club is imminent.

Speaking following his side's 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace on Thursday, Arteta insisted nothing had been decided yet.

"Well, I don't know how close he's been before," he said.

"There are some conversations going on with [technical director] Edu and the club at the moment, but nothing concrete yet."

Ozil has not featured for the Gunners since March after being frozen out of the team by Arteta.

Zaha vs Pepe deal explained

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has explained why the Gunners went for Pepe over Zaha, despite Emery wanting the Palace man.

"I’m sure Emery would have loved to have someone like Zaha but again it’s down to the board and money available," the former England midfielder told  Stadium Astro  .

"I don’t know what the situation was with the funds they had behind the scenes.

"Pepe, they did that in a staggered way, probably paying £15million a year, which suited the French side as well where he came from.

"Probably Crystal Palace wanted the money up front, which Arsenal couldn’t have done at that time, because they need to replace him – if you lose your best player you need to replace him.

"The deal probably wasn’t right for Crystal Palace if Arsenal couldn’t pay it up front."

Source: m.allfootballapp.com

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