Arsenal are set to miss out on the signing of Malaga midfielder Pablo Fornals, according to Sport.
The Catalan based newspaper report that Villarreal will sign the 21 year old this week once the Yellow Submarine have triggered the playmaker’s €12million (£10.7m) release clause.
The Gunners were linked with Fornals and his team mate Sandro Ramirez earlier in the transfer window. While Sandro moved to Everton last month, it now seems Arsene Wenger has opted against signing the central midfielder as well. The Spanish international made 32 appearances in La Liga last season, scoring six goals and providing three assists.
Fornals reportedly turned down a new contract at Malaga in order to leave the club with his low release clause still in place. With Santi Cazorla injured and Jack Wilshere reportedly free to leave the club with one year remaining on his current contract, Arsenal may have been on the lookout for offensive central midfielder, but it seems like it won’t be Fornals who will be the one to fill the gap.