Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

Henrikh Mhkitaryan can save Arsenal £9.36m and ensure Justin Kluivert vision is fulfilled

Arsenal have been linked with a number of players ahead of the summer transfer window.

The latest of which being AS Roma wonderkid Justin Kluivert.

According to Corriere dello Sport, via Team Talk, the Gunners could move for the son of former Barcelona and Newcastle United striker, Patrick, and are said to be eyeing up a potential swap deal.

Arsenal Awards 2019/20 Winners

This scenario would see Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who has spent this season on loan in the Italian capital and has rediscovered some of his previous form, join the Serie A outfit permanently with Kluivert moving in the opposite direction.

Furthermore, the Italian publication is reporting the Gunners could pay £13m on top to get this deal done.

And judging by Kluivert's comments prior to leaving Ajax for Roma in the summer of 2018, he would jump at the chance to play for the Gunners - as well as several other top European clubs.

"If you get a nice offer, you never know," Kluivert said when asked about a move away from Ajax a couple of years ago.

"England appeals to me: Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea or Manchester United are nice clubs where I can see myself playing in a few years.

"Everywhere I go abroad they know my father and he often asked: 'Come to Barcelona, I'll give a tour of Camp Nou'.

"I really wanted to go to Barcelona instead of Real Madrid.

"Barcelona is in my heart, but who am I to say no to Real Madrid?"

For Kluivert's Arsenal vision to be fulfilled, the north London outfit must agree a deal with Roma and Mkhitaryan must agree terms with Roma.

Getting the Armenia international off the wage bill will certainly be a massive boost for Gunners head coach Mikel Arteta.

Mkhitaryan's wages work out at £9.36million a year - via Spotrac - which means Arsenal will avoid having to continue paying him £180,000-a-week for the final 12 months of his deal at the Emirates Stadium.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.