Arsenal are reportedly lining up a huge bid for Everton midfielder Amadou Onana, following reports that the Belgian sat out training on Tuesday.
Belgian has impressed on Merseyside since his £33million move from Lille last summer, with his form earning him plenty of admirers.
It is thought that big-spenders Chelsea are interested in the 21-year-old, as Blues owner Todd Bohely aims to continue his investment in youth.
Onana’s price tag revealed
Journalist Graeme Bailey told 90min that the Gunners have ‘been in touch’ with the belgian midfielder, and revealed how much they would need to pay.
Bailey told the Talking Transfers podcast: “Intriguingly, they are considering letting Amadou Onana go, the midfielder who came for £33 million from Lille last summer. He’ll carry a price-tag of £50 million. Newcastle and Arsenal have both been in touch.
“I think we can confirm, neither of those are going to pay £50 million this month. One team we know probably would, and is thinking about it, is Chelsea.”
Mikel Arteta is in the market for further midfield options, having already signed Brighton winger Leandro Trossard and Polish defender Jakub Kiwior this January.
Onana sits out training
Arsenal’s approach comes after the player reportedly missed Everton’s training session on Tuesday.
Sky Sports claimed Onana was not present at Finch Farm just a day after Frank Lampard was sacked by the club.
However, 90min report that Arsenal have also joined the race for Onana’s signature.
Anthony Gordon, who has been linked with a move to Newcastle, also didn’t take part in the training session.
However, Sky Sports reporter Vinny O’Connor reported that both players were “planned absences”.
Eddie Howe is said to want to sign Gordon for £25m plus £15m in add-ons, just six months after Everton rejected a whopping £60m bid from Chelsea.
The Toffees currently sit level on points with Southampton, rock bottom of the Premier League table. They are also on the hunt for a new manager, following the departure of Lampard.
And to add to concerns, The Guardian report that the club’s owner Farhad Moshiri is now seeking to sell the club for more than £500million.
