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Thursday, June 04, 2020

Report: Arsenal boss Arteta holds talks with Andrey Arshavin to sign Sardar Azmoun

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Arena Napoli have claimed that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has contacted former Gunner Andrey Arshavin to discuss about Zenit St. Petersburg’s Sardar Azmoun.

The Iranian attacker has been heavily linked with a move to England with Arsenal, West Ham and Leicester City all interested in him.

Arshavin, a legend at Zenit, is on their transfer committee. The former Arsenal man will have a say in transfer negotiations and Arteta seems to have noticed that.

The duo played 25 games together during their time at the Emirates and if that relationship is still intact, Azmoun could be heading to Arsenal this summer.

The Gunners are at the risk of losing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the end of this season. The Arsenal skipper will soon enter the final year of his contract and forcing him to stay will mean that he leaves for free next year.

Aubameyang is Arsenal’s top scorer and one of the biggest reasons why they aren’t in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

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His replacement will have huge shoes to fill but the current financial climate will prohibit Arsenal from signing a big name this summer.

Azmoun has had an impressive season in Russia with Zenit. The Iranian, still only 25, has scored 14 goals and has provided seven assists in all competitions this season.

AC Milan and Napoli are also interested in signing Azmoun this summer. However, if Arteta really wants to bring him in, he will be hoping that his relationship with Arshavin helps sway the deal towards North London.