Arsenal ‘offered the chance’ to sign £79m PSG star – Report | OneFootball

Arsenal Linked with PSG Wonderkid but Questions Remain

Arsenal are once again being linked with a major transfer move, with TeamTalk reporting that Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery could be available for around €90m. The 19-year-old has already clocked up nearly 150 senior appearances for PSG and is widely regarded as one of the most promising talents in European football.

According to the report, intermediaries have approached PSG about the teenager’s potential availability, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid all named as possible destinations. The price tag is steep, yet interest is inevitably high given Zaire-Emery’s profile and performances since breaking into PSG’s first team.

“Intermediaries are said to have ‘approached’ the French giants to discuss a possible move for the 19-year-old, who could be open to the possibility of a transfer,” TeamTalk note.

Midfield Options Already Strong

For Arsenal, the question is not so much about the player’s talent, but about whether Mikel Arteta truly needs another midfielder. The squad already boasts Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, and a range of younger talents who provide depth. Zaire-Emery’s reported versatility, having featured in three different positions this season including right-back, does make him a tempting option.

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TeamTalk point out that “there is no way the north London outfit are spending that sort of money on a rotational midfielder, given how well Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice have been working in tandem early into the new season.”

Manchester City Interest

City may well prove a more natural fit. Pep Guardiola has been monitoring Zaire-Emery for several seasons, and with Rodri’s long-term future under scrutiny after an ACL layoff, the Frenchman could represent a next-generation midfield anchor.

The Spanish outlet Defensa Central, cited by TeamTalk, suggest Real Madrid are also in the frame, though Los Blancos have their own packed midfield to manage.

Transfer Gamble or Statement Move?

For Arsenal, any pursuit would be less about necessity and more about making a statement. Spending close to £80m on a 19-year-old would emphasise the ambition of both Andrea Berta and Arteta, but it risks creating imbalance in a squad already rich in midfield quality.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

As Arsenal fans, this report stirs mixed emotions. On one hand, Warren Zaire-Emery is a phenomenal talent, the type of player supporters would love to see at the Emirates. He has experience well beyond his years, with close to 150 games for PSG, and he embodies the modern midfielder: press resistant, technically gifted, and versatile. If the club has serious aspirations of consistently competing with Manchester City and Liverpool, these are the calibre of signings we should be exploring.

However, practicality matters. Spending nearly £80m on a midfielder when we already have Rice, Zubimendi, Ødegaard, and others in the rotation feels like a luxury rather than a necessity. There are other areas of the squad that may need attention, such as adding depth in attack or reinforcing defence.

This feels more like a move Manchester City would pursue, especially with Rodri’s injury concerns and Guardiola’s ongoing rebuild. For Arsenal, while the temptation is obvious, fans will likely want the club to spend smart rather than splash for the sake of prestige.