Arsenal: Nabil Fekir transfer situation has officially become unbelievable
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal missing out on Nabil Fekil isn’t a shock to anyone, but the way in which they are missing out on him this time should be a shock to everyone.
I never thought I would say that I “can’t believe” anything that has to do with Arsenal transfers. They are capable of literally anything. They managed to buy a Golden Boot winner in January, but they’ve also spent £35m on Shkodran Mustafi.
There’s nothing they can’t do, good or bad.
But I’ve been proven wrong. Because I literally cannot believe what has become of the Nabil Fekir situation. No matter how I run it through in my head, it makes no sense, and as it continues, it makes even less sense.
There was a time when Nabil Fekir was worth £70m. Lyon had a hot commodity of an attacking midfielder who scored and assisted with ease. He was young, tremendously talented, and had the world captivated by his abilities.
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Last summer, Arsenal were linked to a move, but with Liverpool set to secure a £55m bid, it looked, as it had before, that the Gunners would never be able to afford him. So I casually packed away these rumors in a shoe box and put them under the bed. No point dreaming about what we could never have. He was too elite for us to handle, apparently.
This summer, everything has changed. With the Gunners desperate for attacking midfield help and passing on all solutions over £30m, Nabil Fekir—the Nabile Fekir—became available for what was rumored to be exactly that—£30m.
And all I can think is, “where the hell is that shoebox, dreams do come true.” But as the rumor goes, we can’t afford his wages because of Mesut Ozil. Our luxury wage-sucker is preventing us from signing a 25-year-old dynamic talent. The guy that has a pre-built rapport with Alexandre Lacazette, the guy that scores and assists like it’s an easy thing to do, like Ozil is supposed to do, and we can afford him.
Except we can’t.
But wait, it gets better!
Not only is he affordable, but the fee wasn’t even £30m. Now it’s being said that he’ll cost just about the same as Kieran Tierney—£26m. £26m! For Nabil Fekir! But instead of us landing this prolific game changer, Real Betis are getting him.
Like I said, this is so ridiculous that it’s not even believable anymore, and that is saying something when it comes to this club.