‘No way!’, ‘City needs to stop selling quality players to their rivals’ – Many fans react as Arsenal eye another transfer raid on Man City

Arsenal are reportedly preparing a bid that would see them spend heavily on Manchester City’ Portuguese full-back Joao Cancelo as well as on Ilkay Gundogan.

Mikel Arteta is keen to reinforce his side after a failed Premier League title bid saw them lead for 93 per cent of the season but look set to fall short with Man City maintaining a four point lead and game in hand at the top.

Arsenal have apparently identified Cancelo – who was shipped out on a midseason loan to Bayern Munich after falling out with Pep Guardiola – as a great option to improve their defensive quality, according to The Telegraph.

There are however rumoured fears that City would be unwilling to let another of their best players go to a Premier League rival after selling Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal last summer.

Both of those players have been influential for Arteta’s side this campaign and that may cause City to put the brakes on any dealings with the Gunners in the upcoming transfer window.

It’s not immediately obvious if Cancelo would get back into this MCFC side, so he may push to move again for next season.

It will be interesting to see if other interest emerges, but the Telegraph suggest that Bayern won’t be keeping the player, as he’s expected to make his way back to the Etihad Stadium once his loan spell comes to an end.

The 28-year-old is no stranger to the Arsenal manager’s beliefs having briefly worked with Arteta during the Spaniard’s time as Guardiola’s assistant at Man City before he left to take charge at the Gunners.

But, Arsenal would likely face competition for Cancelo and interest from outside England could tempt City to sell abroad rather than strengthen one of their competitors.

The report was shared on Twitter by City Xtra and it attracted plenty of attention from the club’s supporters.

@prime_sergioo: “No, we already said we’re not doing business with direct rivals, ship him off to another league.”

@LameGuy9320: “If they pay good then surely we gotta sell. But not for the tinpot cash we got for Zinchenko”

@a779457: “Wouldn’t be bothered about this one bit. All he’d do is cause problems there and disrupt whatever team environment they’ve created this season 50-70m for them though”

@TheFodenRoleX: “No way we sell another player to them.”

@Sxne19iv2: “Can’t sell to them tbh”

@Indalo_FPL: “Can’t see City being keen on strengthening Arsenal again like they did with Jesus and Zinchenko, so I’d be very surprised if this happened..”

@Blessing_int: “A real sign of intent from Arsenal but city needs to stop selling quality players to their rivals.”

Arsenal to offer long-term contract to Ilkay Gundogan

The transfer window is always filled with nonsense, and the latest links Arsenal with a surprise swoop for Manchester City’s midfield maestro, Ilkay Gundogan.

According to reports from ‘Bild’ via Sport in Spain, Arsenal have taken ‘decisive steps’ towards acquiring the services of the 32-year-old German international.

Gundogan, a pivotal player in Manchester City’s campaign, is believed to be seeking a long-term contract, something that City have been reluctant to offer.

The Gunners, looking to bolster their midfield, have been scanning the market for players with technical prowess. Gundogan, after an exceptional season with City, has become a prime target for Arsenal.