Arsenal report: Mikel Arteta makes shock £100m move for unsettled Manchester United star
Arsenal have identified Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's successor – and the Gunners feel this Manchester United star is a realistic target...
Arsenal are set to launch a shock £100m bid for a Manchester United starlet, who is demanding more game time at Old Trafford.
According to Catalan outlet El Nacional, Mason Greenwood is unhappy in the northwest and emerged as a potential replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the Gunners' frontline.
But Greenwood won't come cheap. The 20-year-old English striker – capped once by his country – would have to shatter Arsenal's transfer record by £30m, were he to make the move down the M6, since United value him at £100m at the very least.
Greenwood emerged as a star under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but with the arrivals of Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, has found minutes hard to come by for the Red Devils. The forward is a scintillating prospect who interim boss Ralf Rangnick has publicly praised – though it's thought that Greenwood doesn't feel particularly valued by the club that he's come through the ranks at.
Arsenal, on the other hand, would want to make Greenwood a star.
Mikel Arteta is assembling a team of young prospects, with Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli – all 21 or under – all shining in the north Londoners' 2-0 victory over West Ham last night. Greenwood would become a focal point for the Gunners and start the majority of games for the club either up front on his own or on the right-wing in Saka's absence.
Given the rumours that the United academy product is unsettled, it makes sense for Arteta to pitch his project to Greenwood – especially with his youngsters thriving this season under his tutelage.
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Despite the excitement that Arsenal fans may have about the deal, however, it does seem a little outlandish to say the least.
Manchester United have no reason to sell the Bradford-born star and certainly don't need the money from a sale. If Greenwood were to want to play more, there are no shortage of clubs who would take him on loan in January – perhaps even Barcelona, thus blocking a move for wantaway ex-Arsenal skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to leave.
Greenwood's contract expires in 2025, with the club retaining an option to extend by a year after that. There's little to no chance the striker running his deal down to move to London Colney – and by the time he can, Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani will be long out of the picture: as will Ralf Rangnick, most likely.
Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.