15.01.2020 | Author: Amir Bashir

Arsenal suffer huge blow as transfer target told by club he won’t be leaving in January

Huge blow for the Gunners

Arsenal facing competition from AC Milan for top transfer target Jerome Boateng — Jerome Boateng is reportedly attracting interest from Arsenal and AC Milan Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt red card for Jerome Boateng München DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and or quasi video xJKx

The 31-year-old German center-back was previously linked with AC Milan and Arsenal as both sides wanted to strengthen their defensive options by securing his signing.

Bayern Munich have told Jerome Boateng that they won’t be selling him in January, amid reports that the defender was attracting transfer interest from Arsenal and AC Milan.

The 31-year-old German World Cup winner has been at the Allianz Arena since joining Bayern from Manchester City in the summer of 2011.

Boateng has enjoyed a fruitful spell during his time with the Bavarian side, which includes a Champions League title and seven Bundesliga titles.

However, he has seen his importance for Hans Flick’s side shrink this season with the likes of Javi Martinez, Benjamin Pavard, and David Alaba replacing him in the club’s starting XI.

Bayern tell Boateng he won’t be leaving in January

Hans Flick doesn't want Jerome Boateng to leave Bayern Munich in January — FLICK Hans Trainer Team FC Bayern Muenchen DFL Fussball Bundesliga Saison 2019-2020 Spiel Fortuna Duesseldorf - FC Bayern Muenchen 0 : 4 am 23. 11. 2019 in Duesseldorf *** FLICK Hans Trainer Team FC Bayern Muenchen DFL soccer Bundesliga season 2019 2020 game Fortuna Duesseldorf FC Bayern Muenchen 0 4 on 23 11 2019 in Duesseldorf PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxSWExNORxDENxFINxONLY

Despite reports of concrete interest in his services from Italy and England, the emaciated size of their squad has forced Bayern to not entertain any bids for Boateng this month.

German publican Sport Bild has reported that the player was told by the club in a pre-Christmas meeting that he won’t be going anywhere this month.

The decision by the Bundesliga giants to pull the plug on Boateng’s transfer isn’t surprising given the lack of options they have at the back.

Apart from the long-term injury suffered by Niklas Sule, the preference of Joshua Kimmich to sacrifice his original right-back role to play on the right of midfield has further made matters difficult for Flick when choosing his starting XI every weekend.

The precariousness of their injury troubles could be gauged from the fact that at times this season, Bayern have been forced to field both full-backs Alaba and Benjamin Pavard in the center of their defense. In such a scenario and with no defensive signings likely this month, the departure of Boateng would have made no sense.

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The Gunners boss Mikel Arteta would surely be a worried man after hearing about Bayern’s decision to not let his top defensive target leave the club this month.

Part of his worry also stems from the average defensive options he has at his disposal at the Emirates, as neither David Luiz nor Sokratis Papastathopolous can be deemed as reliable options.

While the former PSG and Chelsea defender has shown his inclination to make ridiculous mistakes, Sokratis’ pace and his age make him a regular target of opposition strikers.

Not surprising then, that with Calum Chambers once again out injured, the Gunners have conceded the most number of goals of any side in the top half of the Premier League.