“I won’t let Mikel ARTETA sign my Players again, he used my players to rank at the Premier League table not this time again”-Mikel Arteta personally wants to sign £42m Manchester City player for Arsenal

“I won’t let Mikel ARTETA sign my Players again, he used my players to rank at the Premier League table not this time again”-Mikel Arteta personally wants to sign £42m Manchester City player for Arsenal.

Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, reportedly eyes a move for Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips in the upcoming January transfer window, signaling a pursuit for a defensive midfielder, as detailed by TEAMtalk. The interest stems from Arteta’s desire to secure Phillips, an English international previously with Leeds United, for Arsenal’s midfield roster.

TEAMtalk asserts that Arteta personally advocates for Phillips’ acquisition at the Emirates Stadium, indicating a genuine interest in the player. However, the report notes that as of now, there hasn’t been any substantial progress toward finalizing a deal.

The motivation behind Arsenal’s pursuit of Phillips, valued at £42 million (as per Sky Sports), lies in Thomas Partey’s injury woes. Seeking to fortify their midfield options mid-season, Arsenal aims to compete for the Premier League title and make a strong showing in the UEFA Champions League.

Despite considering alternatives like Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa or Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, Arsenal deems these potential acquisitions too expensive, as mentioned by TEAMtalk.

Interestingly, Manchester City has also been linked with Douglas Luiz, a player they previously sold due to work permit complications.

Expressing an opposing viewpoint, the article contends that selling Phillips to Arsenal, a direct title contender, would not be a prudent move for City, especially mid-season. While Pep Guardiola previously mentioned not impeding a player’s move to a direct rival, the article advocates for City to exercise common sense and refrain from strengthening a competitor.

The author argues against the idea of City facilitating Arsenal’s squad enhancement by selling Phillips, despite his perceived lack of impact at Etihad Stadium. Instead, there’s a suggestion that City should consider offloading Phillips to Juventus, a move that would avoid bolstering a direct domestic rival like Arsenal.