Arsenal had been keeping tabs on 21-year-old Papa Gueye as Mikel Arteta is desperately looking to add a new midfielder this summer.
The Gunners have a number of midfield options this season but almost all of them have played really poorly so far. The likes of Xhaka, Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira have all been below par and getting back to the Champions League will be next to impossible with this bunch.
Arteta has scouted a number of midfield options so far this season and French U19 international Papa Gueye has been one of these players.
But it looks like the Gunners have missed out on the youngster since he’s reportedly agreed to join fellow Premer League side Watford FC.
France Football claims: “Promising midfielder from Le Havre, Pape Gueye will continue his career in the Premier League where Watford awaits him.
“While his name has been circulating in recent weeks in some beautiful L1 teams like OM, Pape Gueye signed a pre-contract at the start of the year with Watford.”
CONFIRMED:
Talented midfielder Papa Gueye from Le Havre in Ligue 2 who was strongly linked to Arsenal, has signed for Watford on a pre contract. He will join on July 1st. #Arsenal pic.twitter.com/ICvNMTIAsx— AFCMarcus (@AFCMarcus) April 28, 2020
The player’s contract with the Ligue 2 side expires in the summer meaning the Hornets will be signing him for free in the summer. And this will be a big missed opportunity for the North London side.
Papa Gueye has been one of the standout players in the French second division this season and so far he’s featured in 25 league matches for Le Havre.
Signing him for free would have been the perfect bit of business from Arsenal but now it looks like the player’s all set to join Vicarage Road in the summer.
Update:
Sky Sports are reporting that Watford have indeed wrapped up the signing of Gueye on a five-year deal.
The report claims: “Watford have signed Le Havre defensive midfielder Pape Gueye on a five-year deal on a pre-contract agreement.
“He will become a Watford player on July 1.”
