Reporter: Arsenal manager Unai Emery ‘in contact’ with PSG defender
Belgian reporter Kristof Terreur claims Arsenal boss Unai Emery is in contact with PSG full-back Thomas Meunier
Arsenal manager Unai Emery has been in contact with Paris Saint-Germain defender Thomas Meunier more than once, according to Belgian reporter Kristof Terreur.
The Gunners have been linked with a potential swoop to sign the Belgium international since their 4-1 loss to Chelsea FC in the Europa League final.
Arsenal finished in fifth place in the Premier League table last season as defensive issues cost the Gunners a spot in the Champions League.
Meunier worked with Emery during the Spanish head coach’s stint in charge of the Parisian side before he replaced Arsene Wenger at Arsenal in 2018.
Veteran Switzerland full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner is set to leave Arsenal this summer and Spanish right-back Hector Bellerin has struggled with persistent injuries.
Belgian reporter Terreur has now claimed that Emery has been making an effort to sign Meunier from PSG to bolster his back four ahead of next season.
“He knows that he has one year left on his deal and has not been offered a new one at PSG so yes he will leave probably,” Terreur told Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk podcast.
“His agent has been pushing around and preparing everything for a move.
“He likes it in Paris and wouldn’t mind staying but Unai Emery has been in touch with him a few times because a right-back is a priority at Arsenal.
“But do they have the money after not qualifying for the Champions League?
“I’m told that for Manchester United he is definitely not their first choice because they are looking at other players.
“His agent has also had a meeting with Everton too but there has been nothing concrete so we are just waiting.
“He is not the best defender but is very good going forward and prefers to play in a 3-4-3 formation so we will have to see if any Premier League clubs come in for him.
“PSG want to sell him though for the right price at £20-25m.”
Arsenal finished in fifth place and a point behind their bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the race to secure the final Champions League spot.
The Gunners ended up without any silverware for the second successive season after Arsenal lost 4-1 to Chelsea FC in the Europa League final in Baku last month.
The north London side haven’t won the Premier League title since 2003-04.
