Nacho Monreal has been repeatedly linked with a move back to La Liga, and a switch to Athletic Bilbao is now actually close to completion, according to Spanish publication AS.
The report seems a little strange, as it contradicts what Monreal himself has recently said.
AS claim we have been forced into selling the left-back, as he has refused to sign an extension after getting into the last year of his contract.
The Spaniard insists that he is happy at the club however, and seems to have no interest in leaving.
“I have one more year on my contract and I would like to stay at Arsenal,” Monreal said, as quoted by talkSPORT.
“I am very lucky to play for Arsenal, and am very happy to play for Arsenal
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“I would like to stay. If the boss wants me to stay, I will do as I am very happy.”
We have been linked with a number of left-backs recently – including Baba Rahman (via the Daily Mail) and Jose Luis Gaya (via The Telegraph) – so it’s possible Arsene Wenger is looking to upgrade, but considering how superb Monreal was last season it seems strange.
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His Basque status makes him an appealing option for clubs like Athletic Bilbao, with the Spanish side apparently already agreeing a €10m fee (via AS). The article also rather specifically states that he will sign a contract until 2018, but unless we have identified a replacement already then it’s hard to see it happening.
We could almost certainly improve on both Nacho Monreal and Kieran Gibbs at left-back, but it’s not a priority position. The former Malaga man was playing some of the best football of his career last season, and it would be a shame to see him leave now.
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