Arsenal endured a nightmare of a January transfer window as they failed to bolster their senior ranks.
The Gunners made two signings for the summer and also brought in a player for the academy.
Arsenal also parted company with 13 players – including former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
They didn’t replace him, with Dusan Vlahovic snubbing the Gunners and joining Juventus.
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However, Vlahovic wasn’t the only striker Arsenal made a move for, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The transfer guru claims that the Gunners tried to land Alvaro Morata, on loan at Juve but on Atletico Madrid’s books.
More precisely, Arsenal proposed a swap deal involving Aubameyang and either Morata or midfielder Arthur Melo.
“Arsenal were trying”
“Aubameyang, he joined Barcelona from Arsenal, but I want to tell you something behind the scenes,” Romano said on his YouTube channel.
“In the final week of the transfer window, Arsenal were trying to push Aubameyang to Juventus before they signed Dusan Vlahovic.
“(Arsenal wanted) to do a swap deal – Aubameyang to Juventus and Arthur or Alvaro Morata to Arsenal.
“They were interested in a potential swap deal with Morata as a new striker or Arthur as a new midfielder.
“Both on loan, so no permanent deal. Aubameyang to Juventus and Morata or Arthur – not both of them, only one – to Arsenal.
“The answer was no. Why? Because Juventus decided to sign Vlahovic, but also because Barcelona also were trying for morata and they received the same answer that Arsenal received for the spanish striker.
“No from Atletico Madrid. Juventus were ready to open negotiations for Morata but (his parent club) said no because they didn’t want to accept any loan move again for (him).”
“So this is why, for Arsenal, it was no to this negotiation.”
Morata would’ve been a decent shout for Arsenal – TBR View
Morata is a talented forward whose link-up play and movement would’ve suited Mikel Arteta’s style at Arsenal.
Back in 2017, Frank Lampard deemed Morata a “very complete striker.
“He has everything – speed, quality on the ball, his movement is fantastic and he can score goals.”
Last season, he bagged 20 goals and 12 assists from 44 Juve appearances.
This season, however, Morata has struggled – maybe a change of scenery would’ve done him some good.
But if Atletico weren’t willing to let the £125,000-a-week striker head elsewhere on loan, not much Arsenal could do about that.
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