Might Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain) have missed his chance to wear an Arsenal uniform? The rumors of his transfer to Arsenal, which heated up last winter, are now gradually quieting down.

The British 'Daily Mail' reported on the 11th (Korea time) that 'Arsenal's priority in the summer transfer market is a striker. Following that is a left winger,' noting that 'Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) is the top target for the left winger position. Other players on the acquisition list include Rafael Leão of AC Milan and Jamie Gittens of Dortmund.'

Arsenal has confirmed another trophyless season. In the Premier League, they lost the title to Liverpool, led by new manager Arne Slot, and failed to overcome PSG in the UEFA Champions League (UCL), exiting in the semifinals. They have been out of the League Cup and FA Cup for a long time.

Although manager Mikel Arteta has been challenging for titles every season, Arsenal continues to fall short. With five consecutive trophyless seasons, it is time for a change. In particular, there is a need to strengthen the front-line attack and the midfield, where captain Martin Ødegaard has not been meeting expectations.

According to the British 'Mirror,' Arsenal dreams of making up to four major signings. This report, by journalist John Cross, who is knowledgeable about Arsenal, is considered reliable. As a striker, Newcastle's Alexander Isak is their top target, but Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting) and Benjamin Šeško (Leipzig) are more realistic options.

In the midfield, the acquisition of defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi is already certain. Zubimendi is regarded as a top-tier player in La Liga. He is a six-number midfielder with excellent defensive skills and outstanding passing ability. Arsenal has already reached a personal agreement with Zubimendi and plans to activate the buyout clause of €60 million (approximately 94.4 billion won) soon.

Arsenal is also looking for left-sided attackers. The departure of Leandro Trossard is possible, and both Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus have not performed as expected. According to the Mirror, Arsenal wants Nico Williams of Athletic Bilbao.

Additionally, Arsenal needs to bolster their defense in preparation for the potential departures of center-backs and full-backs. They are close to acquiring backup goalkeeper Juan García, but this is not considered a major signing. In summary, Arsenal is currently looking for at least one major player in the striker, left winger, central midfielder, and defensive positions.

The Mirror reported that 'Arsenal aims for four major signings as part of a significant summer overhaul. They will focus on the summer transfer market after losing to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and failing to reach the Champions League final.' Several names, including Jorginho, Thomas Partey, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Jakub Kiwior, are on the release list.

However, Lee Kang-in's name was absent. If manager Arteta wants a traditional number 9 striker and a fast winger with breakthrough ability like Williams, as well as a defensively strong central midfielder like Zubimendi, then Lee Kang-in is not a fit. Lee Kang-in has showcased his versatility at PSG, playing various roles ranging from 'false 9' to winger and defensive midfielder, but his most suitable positions are right winger or attacking midfielder.

The reputable 'BBC' also did not include Lee Kang-in in Arsenal's summer transfer market acquisition list. Like the Mirror, the media mentioned Isak, Šeško, Gyökeres, Zubimendi, Williams, and García.

While Gittens' name was newly added for the winger position, Lee Kang-in was not. The BBC reported that 'Arsenal, who are looking to sign a winger, have a true target in Williams. Gittens is also receiving their affection.' The Daily Mail also mentioned Gittens and Leão as lower-priority targets.

The atmosphere is quite different from last winter. At that time, reports centering on 'The Athletic' indicated that Arsenal was considering signing Lee Kang-in, and there were actual inquiries. However, PSG rejected all offers, leading to the failure of the transfer. Now, as the summer transfer window approaches with the season ending, more options have been presented, and it appears that manager Arteta has turned his attention away from Lee Kang-in.

Under these circumstances, Lee Kang-in's transfer to Arsenal is likely to remain just a rumor. If he cannot find a destination as good as Arsenal, the disappointment of having been unable to transfer last winter due to PSG's opposition may linger.

For now, it seems likely that Lee Kang-in will part ways with PSG this summer. The Spanish 'Estadio Deportivo' reported that 'Preparations have been completed for Lee Kang-in to finish his time with the team. PSG has allowed Lee Kang-in's transfer as they prepare for the next season. Arsenal is showing interest in him, and his price has already been set.'

The influential French media 'L'Équipe' echoed similar sentiments. The media stated that 'Lee Kang-in wants more playing time, especially in important matches. However, he is remaining silent as the team continues to win. Both sides are expected to discuss future matters after the end of the season,' adding that 'now PSG is open to selling Lee Kang-in.'

The biggest reason is that his playing time has significantly decreased. Since the winter transfer window, Lee Kang-in's position has become narrower. He has played in various positions, alleviating coach Enrique's concerns, but he has been unable to establish a firm position and has fallen into the role of a rotational player. In fact, he has been sitting on the bench during the most important UCL stage.

Lee Kang-in has also dropped hints about a transfer. On the 6th, he deleted PSG's team name from his Instagram profile. This has led to interpretations among fans that Lee Kang-in, who has recently been engulfed in transfer rumors, might be leaving yet another hint about his transfer. In fact, during his time at Mallorca, he also deleted the team name from his Instagram before moving to PSG.

The most likely destinations are in the Premier League. Lee Kang-in is linked not only with Arsenal but also with Manchester United, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, and Tottenham Hotspur. Additionally, Lee Kang-in's agent, Javier Garrido, visited England last month and held discussions with Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Everton, further fueling rumors.

Among them, Arsenal is most strongly linked with Lee Kang-in. Estadio Deportivo reported that 'Arsenal is knocking on the door. They will welcome Lee Kang-in's arrival starting next season. Arsenal will not have difficulty bringing Lee Kang-in for the amount PSG wants. This will be a special request from Arteta.'

The British 'Caught Offside' also recommended Lee Kang-in to Arsenal. The media stated, 'Lee Kang-in can play on both flanks and will add scoring and creativity on the sides. His ability to face defenders and win one-on-one battles will add unpredictability to Arsenal's attack,' and claimed, 'Lee Kang-in could grow into a top-class player at Arsenal. Arsenal needs a versatile attacker who can perform multiple roles like him.'

However, Lee Kang-in has now been removed from Arsenal's acquisition list. If things go wrong, the plans for Lee Kang-in to embark on a new challenge this summer might fall through. No specific reports have emerged regarding Manchester United and Newcastle either. There have been rumors that Napoli wants Lee Kang-in again, but it remains uncertain.

However, Arsenal may still sign an additional central midfielder. According to the BBC, if Partey leaves the team as his contract expires, they will need to find not only Zubimendi but another midfielder as well. Therefore, there is a sufficient possibility that manager Arteta might turn his attention back to Lee Kang-in.

Meanwhile, reasons for Lee Kang-in to leave PSG are growing stronger. On the 11th, he played 90 minutes in the match against Montpellier, contributing to the team's 4-1 victory. This was the first time in about four months since he played a full match in a league game against Saint-Étienne in January.

However, Lee Kang-in could not smile freely. He took on a role closer to the left-wing back in a 3-4-3 formation. While he has played as a 'false 9' and defensive midfielder before, this was his first time playing as a wing-back. He has also been unable to find his position and has become a testing subject for coach Luis Enrique. If he remains at PSG next season, similar situations could repeat.

Struggling in an unfamiliar position, Lee Kang-in received a failing grade. 'Culture PSG' stated that 'Lee Kang-in took on a somewhat ambiguous role as a left defender. He gave a terrible impression that he does not want to play this match. He failed to make inspiring attempts and exhibited technically slow and overly complicated movements. As a result, he had little impact,' giving him the lowest rating of 4 in the team.

'90min France' rated Lee Kang-in with a score of 5. The media noted, 'Given that Lee Kang-in collided with an opponent in the 23rd minute of the first half, it was likely that he would be substituted early like in the Strasbourg match. In the end, he kept his position, but he did not show particularly convincing results. Although he touched the ball a lot, there were no remarkable achievements aside from lateral or backward passes.'

[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), PSG, Fabrizio Romano, World of Football, 365 Scores, Arsenal Now social media.

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