BBC’s Ornstein on Nkunku, Perisic and Carrasco deals which were to happen
BBC reporter David Ornstein has given some details over how three Arsenal transfer deals failed to be completed before the deadline on Thursday.
For much of the month of January, the Gunners were strongly linked with several players as the club searched for new signings with their hopes of finishing in the top four of the Premier League on the line.
Even though Arsenal were able to secure the services of Denis Suarez from Barcelona in the end, the midfielder was not the only player whom Unai Emery was chasing in January.
The likes of Ivan Perisic, Christopher Nkunku and Yannick Carrasco were all linked with a move to the Emirates stadium.
However, neither of those three players were able to complete their rumoured moves to the Premier League as Arsenal had to settle with just one new signing.
According to BBC journalist David Ornstein, there was a failed attempt by the club to sign either one of those players.
“Unfortunately for Arsenal they had hoped to he [Nkunku] would be their second loan signing of the day but it was extremely complicated.” Ornstein said
“PSG needed to get a replacement in. PSG needed to sign him to a contract extension which would have protected his value.
“Arsenal would have then needed to agree a deal with Paris St-Germain. Thomas Tuchel, the Paris St-Germain coach, would have needed to accept it without a replacement.
“He wanted Nkunku in his squad and also Tuchel and Arsenal’s head of recruitment Sven Mislintat have a frosty history that may have had a political element and ultimately brought this deal down.
“Ivan Perisic was a target of Arsenal, again a loan with an option to buy but Inter Milan had no interest in that. They wanted guaranteed money.
“So that one fizzled out pretty quickly. Arsenal also had an interest in Yannick Carrasco the Belgian international who’s playing in China at the moment.
“But their loan fee offer for him was unacceptable in the Chinese club’s mind and so that deal didn’t materialise either, leaving Arsenal only with Denis Suarez.”
