It looks set to be one of Arsenal’s busiest ends to a transfer window in years, but this time it’s for all the wrong reasons as Serge Gnabry’s father has pointed out.
As Calum Chambers and Jack Wilshere begin packing their bags for a loan move away from the Gunners, it looks as if Gnabry will become a permanent departure.
Fresh from his impressive showing at the Rio Olympics where his six goals helped Germany to a silver medal, the 21-year-old looks set to join Bayern Munich.
Whilst speaking to German news organisation, SWR, Gnabry’s father stated:
I would have liked it if Serge would have prevailed here at Arsenal, he still has a contract until 2017. But he’s already in thoughts away…
BBC Sport’s David Ornstein has thrown his knowledge into the fray too, letting us know that Arsenal are reluctant to sell but a big offer from Bayern could be too good to turn down.
The news comes as a surprise after Arsene Wenger made his intentions known to extend the contract of Gnabry, who can play on either one of the left and right wings.
Sky Germany announced the news early on Tuesday morning leaving just over 24 hours for the deal to go through, with Gnabry then set to join Werder Bremen on loan after agreeing terms with Bayern.
What should Wenger do with Gnabry this season?
— Fresh Arsenal (@Fresh_Arsenal) August 13, 2016
It’s no shock that clubs in the Bundesliga are after his services after this summer confirmed what a real talent he is, but the news isn’t sitting too well with Arsenal fans.
However, by looking at Wenger’s comments earlier this month it seems this is a decision Gnabry and his agent have made together, with the chance to play in his home country too good to reject.
He’s only got one year left on his contract at Arsenal, so the Gunners might want to cash in while they can, but this is more of a departure they couldn’t hold on to any longer.
After a failed loan spell to West Brom last season where he was demoted to play Under-21 football yet again, Gnabry has never had a chance to prove himself.
With so much competition on the flanks at Arsenal there is never any assurance that he’ll get that again this season and first-team football is what he wants more than anything.
He’s good enough to play at Bayern, and this is one of those transfers we’ll look back on in five years time and say, how did we let him get away.
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