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Arsenal have reportedly missed out on Malick Fofana, though it remains unclear whether Sunderland or Crystal Palace will ultimately land the Gunners' briefly considered alternative to Julián Alvarez.
Fofana had caught Arsenal's attention on Monday evening. Yet, while Mikel Arteta's men were grinding out a 1–0 victory against Aston Villa, their Premier League competitors were busy working the phones.
It was first reported by The Athletic that a deal between Sunderland and Lyon valued at $34.8 million (£25.7 million, €30 million) had been reached. That figure represents something of a bargain in today's inflated market, which may explain why Crystal Palace were also prepared to match that price, according to L'Équipe.
It is yet to be determined which Premier League club will secure Fofana's services, but it is widely understood that Arsenal will not be in the running, despite their pressing need for a new attacker.
There has been considerable speculation surrounding Alvarez's future. Once the Argentine international made it openly clear that he wished to leave Madrid and move to Barcelona, Atlético made it abundantly clear that such a transfer would never be considered. As Mikel Arteta reportedly learned following a direct conversation with Alvarez, Arsenal was never a desirable destination for the player.
Despite all the setbacks, the Gunners appear to have been caught flat-footed in their search for alternative attacking options. Both Brazilian Gabriels — Martinelli and Jesus — are being offloaded in a summer that has so far only seen Christos Tzolis arrive as a replacement for the departing Leandro Trossard.
Arsenal were hardly overflowing with attacking talent last season — their total of 71 goals is the lowest recorded by any Premier League title winner since Leicester City's remarkable triumph over a decade ago.
Arteta is now compelled to change course once again in an effort to bolster a forward line that has been further depleted.
Arsenal 'Agree' Ethan Nwaneri Loan Exit
Ethan Nwaneri's name can now be added to the list of Arsenal forwards departing this summer. The gifted academy product has slipped down Arteta's pecking order and was compelled to secure a loan move to Marseille last January simply to get some playing time. The swift departure of Roberto De Zerbi — whose presence as manager had been a key factor in Arsenal's decision to send Nwaneri to Marseille — ultimately derailed that temporary stint.
Even with the shrinking pool of attacking players at his disposal, Arteta still has no room for Nwaneri. BBC Sport reports that a loan agreement with Borussia Dortmund has been reached after interest from several Premier League clubs was turned down.
Dortmund have earned a reputation as one of Europe's premier development clubs. Nwaneri's fellow Englishmen Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho, as well as Erling Haaland, all thrived from regular football at a Champions League club with an electric atmosphere in a fiercely competitive league.
Nwaneri's path into the starting lineup has been inadvertently opened up by the serious ACL injury sustained by Dortmund's young Greek talent Giannis Konstantelias, whose promising start in the Ruhr Valley was tragically cut short on his debut.