Arsenal are NOT actively pursuing Lyon attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta, according to The Athletic journalist James McNicholas.
The website’s Gunners correspondent, who is very reliable, claims that the €65m (£55m) rated Brazilian international is “not currently a focus” for the London club, with their transfer priorities lying elsewhere:
Before there were Ben White & Aaron Ramsdale, there were Jules Kounde & David Raya.
Targets elude clubs. It happens.
‘Plan A’ is important, but willingness to pursue Zinchenko shows how it’s just as important to be flexible & reactive. @TheAthleticUKhttps://t.co/mf7hfjJR8i
— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) July 15, 2022
McNicholas does not deny that Arsenal are admirers of Paqueta but the club are keen to bring in a left-back and another winger before looking at making improvements to their midfield.
The club are believed to be making progress in terms of their pursuit of Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko. Reports suggest that the Citizens are demanding between £30m and £35m for the Ukrainian international so we shall see if an agreement on a fee can be reached.
With regards to wingers, an alternative to Raphinha seemingly hasn’t been found yet, although other reports have mentioned the likes of Barcelona’s Memphis Depay, Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby, Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio, Porto’s Pepe and Napoli’s Hirving Lozano as potential targets.