Everton midfielder Amadou Onana is considering a move to Arsenal, but the club may face financial constraints preventing a winter deal, as per reports from Het Nieuwsblad. While the Gunners have been linked with the Belgian international, conversations with Everton regarding a potential deal are said to be underway. However, financial limitations are reportedly hindering Arsenal from making a formal proposal for the player. Everton is reportedly seeking at least €70 million to part ways with Onana, making a permanent deal unlikely for Arsenal.
Onana has gained recognition as one of the premier defensive midfielders in the English top flight, showcasing impressive statistics this season, including 2.6 tackles and 7.1 duels won per appearance, along with 6.6 ball recoveries. His aerial challenges success rate stands at 70%, and he has a 50% success rate in takeovers.
The potential addition of Onana to the Arsenal midfield is seen as a complement to Declan Rice, providing Rice the opportunity to excel in the number eight position. Arsenal had initially planned for this role to be filled by Thomas Partey, but injuries have hindered the Ghanaian’s reliability.
While Onana could be a potential replacement for Partey in the future, the likelihood of a January settlement appears doubtful due to financial constraints faced by Premier League clubs, who are cautious about violating Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. Last winter, top-flight clubs spent a total of €726 million on transfers, but this figure has drastically decreased to €39 million this season due to concerns about potential point deductions.
