If you follow football transfer rumors, you likely read all about Arsenal FC’s interest in Paris Saint-Germain left-back Layvin Kurzawa.
Arsenal in advanced talks to sign PSG left-back Layvin Kurzawa. Negotiating today over deal for this window. Free agent in summer so trying to do it now without fee. #AFC working on 3-4 loan / free / low fee deals (doesn’t mean will do all) @TheAthleticUK: https://t.co/OmzZiA5Ije
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) January 16, 2020
The transfer has been talked about by football journalists for days and the latest reports indicated that Kurzawa and the Gunners had actually come to an agreement over a 5-year contract.
If PSG’s sporting director is to be believed though, and I’m inclined to do so, the Kurzawa/Arsenal connection is a complete fabrication.
After PSG’s 1-0 win over FC Lorient in the Coupe de France on Sunday, Leonardo was asked about Arsenal’s interest in Kurzawa.
“We never had a proposal, zero. He plays a lot of matches, he is there. We didn’t have an exact proposal, he was also a player at the end of his contract but we didn’t get anything. Arsenal never called, we have nothing.”
It doesn’t get any more definitive than that.
This news will be music to the ears of former Arsenal defender Gilles Grimandi who is currently on Patrick Viera’s team at OGC Nice. He recently spoke about the potential transfer on Late Football Club (via Daily Star).
“Would I have signed Kurzawa? No. I watched him at Monaco, I think that he is a boy who has quality, a boy who certainly has the potential to be one of the best in his position, but sadly he is lacking in certain areas.”
“I don’t see him improving, I don’t see him as a boy who has the hunger to attain the highest level. For Arsenal, he does not have the profile that matches the club’s project.”
“There are youngsters who are coming up, he is already a certain age. I don’t see the point in Arsenal getting Kurzawa.”
His assessment isn’t necessarily wrong, which is why many PSG supporters were fine with the 27-year-old leaving for the Premier League this month.
No refunds
— Steve McGowan (@macca2907) January 16, 2020
Manager Thomas Tuchel isn’t as keen to see his number two left-back leave in the January transfer window. When asked about the transfer ahead of the match against Lorient, Tuchel responded with, “But we need him!” and “It’s good that he is here. He’s an important player on the left.”
Kurzawa did in fact play against Lorient and also featured against AS Monaco in the previous match. Against his former club at the Stade Louis II, Kurzawa had perhaps his best match of the season but against Ligue 2 side Lorient, he struggled and was targeted by the opposing team’s attackers relentlessly.
Arsenal target Layvin Kurzawa received just a 3/10 rating in @lequipe as PSG scraped past Ligue 2 Lorient in the Coupe de France. "Lorient quickly understood that it was best to attack down his wing".
— Jeremy Smith (@jeremysmith98) January 19, 2020
I’m not sure how the rumor of Kurzawa’s transfer to Arsenal got started, I’m assuming his new agent had something to do with it, but if Leonardo and Tuchel are to be believed, Kurzawa will see out the rest of his contract and likely leave this summer.
Big news‼️Je suis super excité de rejoindre la famille de Sports Invest UK 🔥🔥🔥
Big news‼️i am very excited to join the Sports Invest UK family🔥🔥🔥— layvin kurzawa 20 (@layvinkurzawa) January 17, 2020
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