Arsenal: So, what’s going on with Jean Michael Seri?

The London Evening Standard reported that Arsenal are moving on from Jean Michael Seri; Sky Sports are reporting the very opposite. So, what’s actually going on?

It was the 15th May that the first substantial Jean Michael Seri rumour surfaced linking him with a move to Arsenal. That was this report from Sky Sports that suggested that the Gunners had talks with Seri’s agent regarding a possible move and that negotiations were ongoing.

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Since then, almost a month ago, the trail has gone dry somewhat. The reports have slowed, other targets have come to the fore, and Seri has slipped into the background, with the most significant Nice story now being the hiring of Patrick Vieira, which was announced on Monday afternoon.

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On June 6th, the London Evening Standard reported that Arsenal were beginning to ‘eye alternative options in central areas’, moving on from the Seri possibility and potentially shifting their attention towards the likes of Lucas Torreira and Steven N’Zonzi. That was five days ago. And James Benge, the journalist, and the Standard are a fairly reputable source.

But now, on Monday 11th June, Sky Sports have again reiterated that there is interest from those at the Emirates, as well as other clubs including Borussia Dortmund, where former Nice manager, Lucien Favre, is now in charge, Chelsea, and Manchester City, though the latter are also closing are on a deal for Jorginho of Napoli and it would be a little surprising if they signed both. So what’s going on?

Well, from reading between the lines a little, let me give you my two cents. I think it’s fairly clear that Sky Sports’ source is from Seri’s camp, most likely his agent. Their initial report was about the agent hosting talks with Arsenal and this latest article is one that is certainly, from a cynical perspective, designed to stoke up interest and perhaps drive up the price and wages of his client.

The Standard, on the other hand, is a solely London-based publication. It wouldn’t really make sense if they had contacts in the Seri camp. There would be no reason to. But the same cannot be said for the club, an organisation that Benge and his paper report on extensively. And that, I believe, is where the disparity in the reporting is coming from.

Neither of these reports are not necessarily untrue. Even though they may seem like opposing one another, and they are to some extent, it is possible that Seri’s representatives have leaked one side of the story to Sky and that Arsenal have leaked another to the London Standard.

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Ultimately, there is only one thing that will determine where Seri lands: time. I guess, then, we will all just have to be patient, not that that is going to be happening any time soon.