Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery, according to report is ready and hoping to raid his former side Arsenal to complete the signing of Reiss Nelson.
The report is according to the Mirror, who are also reporting that Spanish side Real Betis are also planning a swoop for the midfielder ahead of tonight’s transfer deadline.
Reiss Nelson has fallen way down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta at the Emirates and is seeking first-team football in respective which side it would. At the weekend, Manchester United fell further off the pace at the top of the Premier League as they were held to a goalless draw at Arsenal.
Nelson has only registered nine appearances in all outings for the Gunners this season, with just out of this coming in the Premier League.
He hasn’t even made a matchday squad in the top-flight since November and clearly isn’t fancied by Arteta. Emery was another boss who didn’t always see Nelson as the first choice at Arsenal.
He managed just six appearances under the former boss but he clearly feels he can do a job in La Liga. Emery’s team are currently fifth and he wants to bolster his attacking arsenal as he bids to take his team into Europe.
Nelson has 12 England under-21 caps to his name and really needs to leave Arsenal. However, the Gunners will be reluctant to offload the versatile winger permanently but getting him out on loan looks like a wise move.
The £15,000-a-week trickster needs to play and if he performs well he could earn a chance at the Emirates Stadium. Arteta has done some good business and some bad during his time in charge but loaning Nelson out seems like a no-brainer.
Playing under Emery will be interesting and the former boss nurturing a player ready for the Arsenal first-team provides an interesting twist of fate.
Nelson is a decent player but his career has stagnated somewhat this season. If he heads to Spain and plays plenty of football, he could earn an Arsenal reprieve next season.
The Hale End graduate enjoyed a loan spell at Hoffenheim previously, scoring seven goals. A similar run at Villarreal, or Real Betis, and he could earn more of a chance in North London.
