Arsenal’s Supposed Andriy Yarmolenko Deal Has Happened Before

Arsenal have supposedly lined up the signing of Andriy Yarmolenko, to be completed in the summer. However, haven’t we heard this story before?

Reports out of the Ukraine have indicated that Arsenal may have notched their second signing of the winter, only that it will have to wait until the summer. Dinamo Kiev’s Andriy Yarmolenko is supposedly being given the chance to stretch his legs outside of the Ukraine Premier League.

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According the report, the deal is to be worth £23m. It was an extra £2m that won the bidding for the Gunners, as Everton had put in a £21m bid.

The 26 year old Ukrainian can play right wing and striker. That makes him exactly like Joel Campbell, Danny Welbeck, Theo Walcott, and Alexis Sanchez. Although it is hard to argue with the success that Yarmolenko has had in his native country. In 22 appearances he has scored 13 goals with eight assists.

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The counter argument is that it is only the Ukraine Premier League, but the man can only make the most out of what he is given.

The link never seemed likely. Arsenal have a surplus of winger-strikers. In fact, they have so many that they are having to find new and creative ways to use that massive crop. So what business do they have adding one more? Especially one that costs so much and who has never been out of the Ukraine? Wenger is not one to spend that much money on someone that is not a necessity. Even when he had a need for a midfielder, he only spent £7m on Mohamed Elneny.

Well, for starters, the deal is not done yet. It is still a rumor. And that is where it will probably die, because this is not the first time that a deal like this has been struck.

Remember last winter when Arsenal had signed Morgan Schneiderlin and all we had to do was wait until the summer to collect him? Well, in case you have not been paying attention, the French midfielder plays for Manchester United and Arsenal is no worse off.

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That is where this rumor is likely headed. Andriy Yarmolenko could be a fantastic talent, but he does not fit into Arsenal’s plans in any way. Versatility is all he has, but in all of his versatility, he does not play a position that Wenger has identified as a need. He even plays the one position that Arsenal have far too many players at.

If he was going to cost £10m or a similarly cute fee, then by all means, sign him up. But spending more for Yarmolenko than was spent for Welbeck, who is younger with a higher ceiling, makes zero sense. Unless Wenger has it in his mind to offload a large portion of his right sided attackers this winter, than this is just a classic misdirection by the rumor-mongers.

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Tell the world it will happen in the summer, then maybe they will forget about it. Let’s see if it works.