On-loan Arsenal forward Joel Campbell will return to north London this summer after denying claims Sporting Lisbon have an option to buy him, but looks set for an inevitable exit this summer after struggling to play in Portugal recently.
Scoring four goals in 23 Premier League appearances for the Gunners, Campbell has shown glimpses of promise however he moved to Portugal last summer in what is his fifth loan during a five-and-a-half year stint at the club. You don’t have to be a betting expert on Sun Bets to know Campbell’s time at Arsenal is seemingly up.
Despite making a positive start to his loan spell with Sporting, he has seemingly lost his way and is struggling to start for the Portuguese outfit recently. But Campbell is determined to end the season on a positive and return to Arsenal this summer with no purchase option available in the loan deal to Sporting.
“There is no purchase option,” he confirmed according to A Bola. “I have to fulfil my loan at Sporting in the best way and, then, return to Arsenal.”
Campbell reflected on his lack of playing time while briefly back in his homeland of Costa Rica during the international break.
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“I have given the best of myself, sometimes I play, other times not, but that’s football,” he said. “But I hope I can play again when I return (from international duty).”
Unfortunately Arsenal missed the boat back in 2014 after Campbell had an excellent World Cup for Costa Rica with his stock nice and high. It would have been wise to sell him then.
Since the tournament in Brazil, he never really got the opportunities under Arsene Wenger despite showing some raw talent, but it is clear he is even below the standard of Lucas Perez who struggles to even kick a ball under the Frenchman before his recent injury.
Campbell will likely be joining the likes of Mathieu Debuchy, Carl Jenkinson and potentially Perez out of the Emirates this summer, not to mention the uncertain futures of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere.
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