Arsenal transfer saga finally comes to an end as inexcusable $111m transfer decision ‘rejected’

Arsenal transfer news: The latest Gunners media briefing from the Emirates Stadium with reaction to stories on Emile Smith Rowe, Folarin Balogun and Mykhailo Mudryk

Mykhailo Mudryk’s name is once again being said in the same sentence as Arsenal. Who would have thought?

The Ukraine international, as everyone knows, rejected the Gunners in favour of a £88.5million ($111m) move to Chelsea in January. And as everyone in football is well aware of, Mudryk has struggled to make an impact in England.

No goals and only two assists have been produced by the winger at Stamford Bridge, leaving many questioning his move. However, should reports be believed, Chelsea are already looking to offload him in their attempt to sign Emile Smith Rowe.

The Blues have expressed an interest in the Hale Ender this summer, with Mauricio Pochettino still hoping to sign an attacker capable of playing out wide on the right and centrally behind the striker. Smith Rowe is yet to play a single second of Premier League action this season and Mikel Arteta’s decision to use Fabio Vieira over the 23-year-old in the draw to Fulham has left his future in doubt.

Any chance of Mudryk being swapped for Smith Rowe is said to have been swiftly rejected by Arsenal, leaving Chelsea with less than three days to muster another bid before Friday’s deadline.

Gunners247 says: Allowing a talent like Smith Rowe to leave for their London rivals is bad enough. But to let him leave and sign Mudryk instead would be one of the most bizarre transfer deals conducted in some time.

It would take some doing for Arsenal to even entertain Chelsea’s offer for Smith Rowe. Mudryk’s performances in the Premier League in his first eight months in the country have not covered him in glory, in fact, it’s probably proved that Arsenal were right not to match Chelsea’s £88.5m bid.

The deal would just be inexcusable for Arsenal. A player with a strong connection to the club for a player who wanted a move to the blue side of London isn’t good business. Chelsea have to do more.

One Hale End graduate who will leave Arsenal this summer is Folarin Balogun. The striker is said to have agreed a deal to join AS Monaco following months of speculation regarding his future.

Balogun returned to London Colney with ambitions of breaking into the Gunners first-team on the back of his wonderful season with Stade Reims. However, that’s not been the case and he’s not on course to permanently leave.

Monaco will pay a €40million (£34.3m) package for the USMNT star and according to Fabrizio Romano, Balogun was in Monaco on Tuesday to undergo his medical tests ahead of his return to France.

The transfer saga that has dominated the headlines throughout the summer is nearly over.