'Looking forward': £50m Arsenal target hints he's going to stay with his current club rather than move

After seemingly missing out on moves for Benjamin Sesko and Nico Williams already this summer, it’s back to the drawing board for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta is thought to want to add further quality to his forward line before the end of August, hoping to create an attack with greater depth.

In that respect, it seems as if Emile Smith Rowe will leave Arsenal for Fulham imminently, a reluctant but necessary departure.

And perhaps the same will eventually be said for Reiss Nelson, even if he is playing well in pre-season.

Leicester City want Nelson from Arsenal alongside a host of other Premier League clubs.

And ultimately it would be the right decision for the Gunners to let another Hale-Ender go, one that Arteta rarely trusts to start important games.

Of course, if they both leave then Arsenal will definitely need to make an addition.

And after learning that Williams isn’t keen on signing for Arsenal, Edu and his team are reportedly now chasing the signature of Barcelona winger Raphinha.

Arsenal target Raphinha hints that he’s not ready to leave Barcelona

Arsenal are ready to bid for Raphinha, but it now seems as if the former Leeds United winger wouldn’t necessarily welcome the club’s advances. 

That’s judging by the £50m-rated Brazilian’s words after joining up with Barcelona for their US pre-season tour in the early hours of Monday morning.

Captured by Sport in Spain, Raphinha’s arrival was particularly noteworthy because of the considerable noise around him potentially leaving the club.

Barcelona are reportedly struggling with FFP right now and the former Premier League winger has been highlighted as a player who could be sold to raise funds.

However, it seems as if Raphinha may take some convincing to get on board with those plans.

Asked about his future by the Spanish outlet, Raphinha simply replied saying: “I’m looking forward to working with [Hansi] Flick.”

Seemingly not the words of a player who is itching to leave the prestigious Catalan club in a hurry, one he still has a three-year contract with.

There’s no doubt that Raphinha would be an excellent addition for Arsenal, but neither Edu or Arteta will want to recruit a player who would be leaving his current side reluctantly.

All that being said, a different Arsenal target has just been left out of pre-season by his current club.