Any hopes Arsenal fans had of Justin Kluivert joining the club in a swap deal for Henrikh Mkhitaryan look to have been quashed.
Mkhitaryan has spent the season on loan with Italian side Roma, with a potential permanent deal on the table to see him remain in the Italian capital next season.
The Gunners have previously been linked with a move for Justin Kluivert, son of Patrick, and there was a feeling that a swap deal could be completed to see him go to north London.
There has been plenty of talk around the deal and here we round-up everything that has gone on with regard to Kluivert and his transfer future.
Mkhitaryan swap deal
Roma are keen to tie up a deal to keep Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the Italian capital permanently.
The Armenian has been on loan for this season, but could make the move permanent, with Arsenal not keen on sending him out on another loan.
And he could be used as a makeweight in a deal to sign Kluivert.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the two clubs have been working on a swap deal for some days now.
The Gunners would be willing to accept a fee in the region of £10.8m for Mkhitaryan, with Roma keen to recoup around £31.4million for Kluivert, meaning it would be a player plus £20.6million cash for Arsenal to complete the deal.
What Kluivert has said
Kluivert has previously been linked with a move to the Premier League.
Prior to leaving Ajax for Roma in the summer of 2018, the forward said 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," he told Helden.
"England appeals to me: Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea or Manchester United are nice clubs where I can see myself playing in a few years."
His role under Arteta
The forward has changed positions under Daniel Fonseca at Roma.
He had been utilised mainly as a winger, but had started to play as the man behind the main striker prior to the suspension due to coronavirus.
"In reality I like it [playing in a different role]. I’m in a slightly different position than before,” Kluivert told FOX Sports last month, as per Football Italia.
"I’m almost a 10 and now I am starting to better understand the requests of the coach.
"In Holland I played openly and often found myself in one on one situations."
Roma suspension
Roma have suspended sporting director Gianluca Petrachi.
The suspension, according to reports in Italy, is the first step towards his permanent dismissal.
Franco Baldini and Morgan De Sanctis are expected to take control, but the upheaval could have an impact on Roma's ability to conclude a swap deal any time soon.
Kluivert on transfer talk
Kluivert has been asked about the transfer links with Arsenal.
But he will not be moved on saying yes or no to the rumours that Henrikh Mkhitaryan could stay in Rome and he moves to north London.
Instead, Kluivert preferred to speak about Mkhitaryan staying alongside him.
He said to voetbalzone.nl: "I'm just happy with his [Mkhitaryan's] help and hope he and Chris Smalling will stay here after this season. They are top players for us."
Mkhitaryan deal agreed
Roma have announced that they have concluded a deal to extend Mkhitaryan's loan with the club until the end of the season.
And not only that, but the Serie A side have a deal in principle for the Armenian to stay with them for the 2020/21 campaign too.
That is thought to be a permanent deal, which would get Mkhitaryan off the Arsenal wage bill.
No Kluivert talks
Roma's interest in Mkhitaryan could have been an advantage to Arsenal in any potential Kluivert negotiations.
However, that is not thought to be the case.
According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, there were no Kluivert talks between the two clubs when discussing Mkhitaryan's loan extension and 2020/21 deal.
