Arsenal: Nabil Fekir does not require corresponding exit

Arsenal are supposedly getting closer to Nabile Fekir, but it needs to be said that a corresponding exit is far from a necessity.

Arsenal’s next seven months are going to be interesting far beyond the realm of how far they go in the Premier League or the Europa League (or the FA Cup or League Cup). It is going to be interesting to see who is brought in in January, if anyone, who leaves in January, if anyone, and then the summer.

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Not to mention the pending future of Arsene Wenger, who has flirted with the idea of not seeing out the final year on his contract.

One man in particular that adds to the intrigue of this whole situation is Nabil Fekir. Reports have been tying him to the Gunners for some time, but when his father said that if his son were to leave Lyon, it would have to be for Arsenal, well, that added a bit of emphasis to the reports.

Now, the Gunners are supposedly edging closer to the services of the Frenchman, and may even be able to secure him as early as January.

It won’t be an easy battle, but the figure of £60m is already being tossed around and with the new additions to the front office, things are no doubt rather interesting in the transfer spectrum, despite Wenger claiming that he is still ultimately in charge of everything.

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It has been said that in order for Fekir to arrive, he would have to be replacing someone and I do think that is the most logical recourse. He could be a replacement for either Alexis Sanchez or Mesut Ozil.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean he has to replace one or the other. Fekir can absolutely still make the move to North London even if both stay. Obviously the only situation in which this would occur is in January, as if Ozil and Alexis stay beyond the summer, Fekir would not be needed.

For Fekir, though, coming to the Emirates with the two superstars already in tow makes more sense than it seems. No, he would not have that free waltz into the starting XI. But he would have half a season of no pressure, allowing him to get acclimated. Not just that, but through 13 matches this year, Ozil, Alexis and Alexandre Lacazette have only started together three times.

That’s hardly an unbreakable trio, as it should be. Meaning that Fekir is not going to be facing a brick wall that he might have in years past.

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It’s still a long shot for January, given. But it just needed to be said.