Arsenal are now showing an interest in signing a player Tottenham Hotspur released following just one senior appearance with a transfer in the summer market on offer.
The Gunners are set for a busy off-season as boss Mikel Arteta strives to strengthen his side to target trophies. Arsenal fell short in their quest to win their first Premier League title in 20 years this term. The north London outfit also did not go far in any domestic cup competition.
Arteta further leaned on Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard to score the bulk of their goals. The trio were the only Arsenal players to find the back of a net 10 or more times in the league. Captain Martin Odegaard was also the one Gunner to pen double-digit assists.
Arsenal are interested in Sporting Lisbon winger Marcus Edwards
So, Arteta is keen to strengthen Arsenal’s attack and is showing an interest in the transfer of Sporting CP star Marcus Edwards. That is according to O Jogo, which reports the Emirates Stadium natives are looking into the 25-year-old’s situation but may have to rival Tottenham.
Spurs continue to monitor Edwards five years on from letting him join Vitoria Guimaraes in a free transfer. The north London club may now have a chance to bring their academy product back to England, too. Sporting no longer rule out letting Edwards go as he fell out of favour.
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Edwards struggled to maintain his form through 2023/24 and lost manager Ruben Amorim’s trust. His inconsistent output failed to assuage any concerns regarding his contribution while Francisco Trincao’s reputation grew. So, Edwards may get his long-sought return to England.
After leaving Tottenham following one senior appearance in an EFL Cup tie in 2016, Edwards has never hidden his desire to play in the Premier League. Now, Arsenal and Tottenham have their eyes on his situation with Sporting refusing to rule out allowing a transfer for Edwards.
Tottenham Hotspur have a 50% sell-on clause for Marcus Edwards
Arsenal and Tottenham are not the only suitors Edwards has in the Premier League, either. A Bola has also reported that West Ham United have shown an interest in the former England U20 forward. He stands out to his suitors as Edwards counts towards the homegrown quota.
Sporting will even consider selling Edwards for just €20m (£17m) after his difficult campaign this season. The Telegraph has previously reported that Edwards has a £52m release clause in his contract with the Leoes, in which Tottenham further have a 50 per cent sell-on clause.
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Tottenham included their clause in Edwards’ move to Vitoria in 2019 but Sporting agreed to let Spurs transfer it to secure his arrival in 2022. Now, Arsenal could indirectly improve their rival’s budget by targeting Edwards’ transfer after giving Sporting six goals and nine assists.
Edwards scored four of his goals plus five assists in 26 Liga Portugal games, along with one goal and three assists in 10 Europa League matches. But Tottenham right-back Pedro Porro called Edwards an ‘extraordinary’ player for his displays over their time together at Sporting.