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According to PSG news website Paris U and French journalist Loic Tanzi, Arsenal are pursuing 17-year-old Paris Saint-Germain starlet Yacine Adli. The link seems to be based on the fact that he was expected to sign a new contract with PSG but hasn’t yet done so. Paris U further reports that Adli is “unsure of his place at the club.” Take this with the usual Transfer Season Grain of Salt, especially given that we are unfamiliar with the sources of the rumor.
He made his professional debut earlier this month in a 10-minute substitute appearance in PSG’s final Ligue 1 match of the season. He has also featured for France’s youth national teams, playing in the U-17 Euros and the U-17 World Cup.
Adli is the type of signing that Arsenal fans long for, and that Sven Mislintat made his reputation on - a young, talented player signed early in his career before becoming prohibitively expensive.
Given that Unai Emery coached PSG last season, it’s not difficult to connect his new club with his former players. Adli will likely not be the last PSG name linked with Arsenal this summer.
UPDATE: We like this.
We really like Yacine Adli.
— Scouted Football (@ScoutedFtbl) May 30, 2018
He's genuinely fun to watch. Extremely graceful in the way he moves; he's impactful and brave in possession, with line-breaking passing, dribbling, and comprehensive vision.
Ironically, he's of a style you would associate with Arsène Wenger. pic.twitter.com/8NZAUuKui2
UPDATE 2: Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
Since we posted the rumor, L’Equipe, the preeminent French sports newspaper, reported that Adli is close to signing with Arsenal (link in French). L’Equipe cites Arsenal’s new regime / direction and opportunities for playing time as reasons why Adli may prefer the Gunners.