Arsenal are in the process of trying to secure their top transfer targets this summer. It is set to be an expensive one with Fabio Vieira, Marquinhos and Matt Turner already agreed and a deal for Gabriel Jesus nearing its conclusion.
As Arsenal look to continue their mission in the market with moves for Raphinha and Lisandro Martinez, the hope would be the glut of surplus players in the squad could give the Gunners a boost financially to recoup as much of their spending as possible. However, one move looks set to be delayed.
Burnley had appeared to be closing in on a move for Arsenal youth product Daniel Ballard. The Northern Ireland international had played the last two seasons on loan with Blackpool and Millwall.
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However, a prospective permanent move to Burnley has broken down according to The Athletic. Vincent Kompany had identified Ballard as a player to replace the departed James Tarkowski and Ben Mee.
Football Insider reported that the Gunners had accepted a £2m deal for the player. It might have appeared a small fee, however Edu had looked to improve the sales of the club’s players and with the Ballard move aimed to insert a clause that would have given Arsenal the ability to match any future bids for the player.
Although the process will need to start all over again with another club or perhaps Ballard now will return to the club for pre-season. With the age of the PL2 being reduced from under-23s to under-21s, the 22-year-old Ballard would count as a ‘senior’ player in the group.
It is unlikely he would be able to break into the team past Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Rob Holding, William Saliba and the potential arrival of Lisandro Martinez. An exit this summer, be it permanently or through another loan, seems an inevitability despite these recent issues.
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