Arsenal: Overlooking the MLS transfer market a mistake

With an Arsenal squad crying out for reinforcements but with little resource to invest, the club should look to the MLS transfer market to get the best value for its transfer money.

There is no shame in the business Arsenal have done this winter. Despite limited resources and a tough negotiation with Barcelona, they have come away completing only a tidy loan deal for Denis Suarez.

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But while the Spaniard seems a good fit, the squad is still crying out for help on the wings and in defense. And many fans have been left wondering if more could have been done.

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For the sake of argument, let’s disregard the major headline of the window: that the Gunners’ financials and wage bill allowed only loan signings to be made this winter. Let’s focus more on where the organization is directing its scouting and recruitment energy in order to get the most bang for their limited bucks.

I think most — if not all — Arsenal supporters feel a flutter of excitement whenever the club is mentioned among the European heavyweights scouting a top tier prospect. Recent target Nicolas Pepe has since been linked to Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and both Manchester clubs, clubs that, with the possible exception of Dortmund, have far deeper pockets.

Pepe has stoked the hype with his performances, for sure. But a player that was valued at around £40 million in the summer grew to £55 million by December. And since Bayern threw their hat in the ring, the latest quoted price has jumped to £72 million. Yikes!

Contrast that with some of the transfer fees coming out of Major League Soccer. Miguel Almiron, a player Arsenal were attached to, moved to Newcastle for a league record fee of about £21 million. Arsenal’s transfer record was set last winter by Pierre Emerick Aubameyang at around £60 million. Quite a contrast.

Several other players have moved from MLS to the Premier League or other elite leagues in recent years with far lower fees to varying degrees of success. DeAndre Yedlin joined Spurs for £2.5 million. Matt Miazga went to Chelsea for £3.5 million. Youngster Tyler Adams was sold to RB Leipzig for around £2.5 million. And D.C. United midfielder Luciano Acosta was linked with a move to PSG (to help cover for an injured Neymar, no less) for around £12 million, although it fell through at the last minute.

The MLS transfer market is becoming an interesting option as the level of play and tactical sophistication rises across the league. It is starting to bear talented fruit from its academy systems and its focus on South American recruitment. And some of the big European clubs like Bayern are starting to take notice.

If they want to find a bit of overlooked value, Arsenal should start to take a greater interest as well. MLS may be an oft-disparaged league, but there are gems to be found, and at a rather tantalising price.