According to journalist Ignazio Genuardi, Arsenal have shown an interest in signing Everton midfielder Amadou Onana who also happens to be a target for Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur.
Everton are expected to offload Onana because they have to balance their books and this is not the first time that the Gunners have been linked with the Belgian midfielder.
Amadou Onana will be playing in the EURO this summer but while talking to the media during the national team’s training camp, the midfielder has dropped a slight hint that he is now ready to leave Goodison Park.
“I want to be a much better player,” he has told Hamburger Abendblatt.
“And my goal is to play for an international world club in three years. I also want to have qualified with Belgium for the 2026 World Cup in America in three years. I dream about that. And I will do everything I can to make these dreams come true too.
“I have to and will answer this very professionally: I’m under contract with Everton – and I’ll leave everything else to the media. I’ll just do my best at the European Championships and then we’ll see.”
Which move is best suited for the defensive midfielder?
Amadou Onana has played in 72 games since moving to Merseyside from Lille and this season, he has been a consistent figure in the middle of the pitch for the Toffees.
In the EPL this season, he has been dribbled past just 21 times in games but he is superb in the air as he’s won almost 75% of his aerial duels. The 22-year-old has also made 160 recovery runs along with 21 interceptions.
While a move to Barcelona will be very tempting for him, at Camp Nou, he will have to fight with players like Gavi, Pedri and Frenkie de Jong.
At Tottenham and Arsenal, he will get a lot more game time but if Amadou Onana wants to play in the Champions League next season then it’s the Gunners who will be the favourites. Arsenal are also going to offload Thomas Partey and the Everton midfielder can be a like-for-like replacement.
Will Amadou Onana move to Spain or will he remain in the PL?
As per all the major sources, Everton are hoping to bring in at least €70 million from the midfielder’s sale with three of the biggest European teams interested in him.
Even though Barcelona have been linked with Onana for perhaps the longest time, they are currently the least likely to land the 22-year-old. Because Everton have to pay Lille 20% of any profit they make from Onana’s sale they will not be ready to offer any discount and given Barca’s poor financial situation, there’s no way they can afford to pay €70 million for the Belgium international.
Hansi Flick is said to be targeting other midfielders like Zubimendi, Joshua Kimmich and Mikel Merino, all of whom are much cheaper than Amadou Onana.
Arsenal and Tottenham have a much better chance of landing the Everton midfielder because both of them have the financial stability to meet the Toffees’ demands.
Some rumours are suggesting that Onana is excited about the possibility of joining Barca so he will probably wait for the Catalans as much as he can but if Barcelona cannot pay up, the midfielder won’t mind joining one of the two North London sides.
