Arsenal reportedly rejected a swap deal from Barcelona for Gabriel Martinelli as Mikel Arteta considers the forward as untouchable. Barcelona were hot on the trail of Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams during the summer but were knocked back by the winger, who instead committed his future to the Basque club.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, is keen on signing a new left winger as reports from Spain claim Martinelli, who has been in the Barcelona ‘spotlight’ for some time. Ferran Torres who joined Barcelona from Manchester City for £45m in January 2022, was at one stage thought to be Mikel Arteta’s radar and the forward was ‘seduced’ by the chance to work under the Spanish boss.
Another more attractive proposition in Arsenal is said to have been former Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen as Arteta ‘wants more alternatives in defence. Arsenal have maintained an important interest in Christensen, whose contract expires in 2026 but they didn’t consider the idea of an exchange with Martinelli despite his patchy form of late.
