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From Spain: Emery calls player to convince him to join Arsenal in £17.5m move

By on June 24, 2018

According to Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo, Unai Emery has made a personal phone-call to Ever Banega to convince him to make a £17.5m move to Arsenal from Sevilla this summer.

After strengthening our backline with the additions of right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner and goalkeeper Bernd Leno, Emery has now turned his attention to revamping our options in the middle of the park.

With Santi Cazorla off to Villarreal and Jack Wilshere confirming he’ll leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the month we need to bring in two central midfielders and we’re reportedly on the verge of signing Sampdoria’s Lucas Torreira.

It seems Emery has already identified his second midfield signing as Banega has emerged as a key target this month and TeamTalk reported last week that his agent was in London to discuss a potential deal with Arsenal chiefs.

It was reported that Banega had reservations about the move as he wanted assurances over the amount of first team football he’d get at the Emirates if Arsenal did trigger his £17.5m release clause.

However, Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo claim that Emery has now personally called Banega to convince him to join Arsenal as our new coach looks to be reunited with the Argentinean international this summer.

Banega won two Europa League titles under Emery at Sevilla so they know each other extremely well and it appears the midfielder could be playing under him again in the Premier League next season if we can get this deal over the line.

Emery only has around £50m-£70m to spend this summer and has already spent the majority of it on Leno and the proposed signings of Sokratis and Torreira so he’s going to have to be astute with his remaining budget.

We can bolster the kitty by offloading some fringe players but as much as Banega would be a solid addition to the squad, I’m not sure how wise it is spending £17.5m on a player who turns 30 next week and who wouldn’t be a guaranteed starter.

MORE: Emery gives green light to £25m signing

Assuming Torreria does sign, he’ll start in midfield alongside Ramsey and Xhaka next season so, personally, I’d prefer to see us give Ainsley Maitland-Niles more game-time in midfield and spend the money on a winger or another centre-back.