Transfer Rumors: Arsenal Suffers Setback In Race To Get In-Demand Midfielder; Options Diminish

Arsenal hits a roadblock in its pursuit of Norwich City midfielder Emiliano Buendia after another European club entered the fray to acquire his services.

During the ongoing January transfer window, head coach Mikel Arteta has made it known that getting a midfielder would be Arsenal’s top priority and Buendia emerged as the ideal target after impressing in the English Premier League last season.

Buendia starred for Norwich City in the continuing English Championship. The versatile midfield operator has contributed seven goals and as many assists in 19 outings to steer the club to the top spot of the team standings.

The Gunners had talks with the player’s agent about a potential move to the Emirates Stadium this month. But football pundit Fabrizio Romano suggested that the only way Arsenal could meet Norwich’s £40 million ($54.1 million) valuation if they would let go some of the team's players.

“Yes, I think, Buendia is a name for sure," he told GiveMeSport. "He is appreciated and they’re working with their scouts going many miles to scout him to look at him and he’s on the list. He’s not the only name.”

“They are in contact with the agent, but they are still waiting to sell players because if you don’t sell players in this market, it is impossible to sign new ones,” he added.

Arsenal’s chances of landing Buendia suffered a big blow after Spanish publication La Razon revealed that La Liga outfit Valencia has asserted themselves to make a swoop for the Argentine.

The Spanish club seeks to bring in reinforcements to aid their climb back up the league table with Buendia in the lineup.

Similar to Arsenal, Valencia is also likely to struggle to meet Norwich’s release fee.

With Arsenal being in a tug of war with Valencia, the North London-based franchise was compelled to look at options on the table and switched its focus on Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Brandt as a potential target.

But the German club is unlikely to do business with anyone from the Premier League side after Axel Witsel sustained a season-ending injury during Saturday’s game against Red Bull Leipzig.

Brandt’s unavailability leaves Arsenal short of options on its wanted list, which could see them return to Norwich with the initially reported player-plus-cash deal that involves trading either Joe Willock or Reiss Nelson.