The wage demands of Blaise Matuidi scuppered Arsenal’s chances of signing the French international this summer, according to France Football (via the Sun).
The 30 year old eventually joined Juventus for £18m in August, but the French publication believes that a number of English clubs, including the Gunners, Manchester United and Manchester City all enquired about the player before his switch to Turin.
Arsenal were reportedly the closest to signing the midfielder out of the Premier League sides, but the Frenchman’s salary demands were said to be the decisive factor in the move not going ahead.
Despite being a mainstay of PSG’s midfield over the last six years, the Ligue One side were willing to let Matuidi leave as he had only one year left on his contract. The Gunners however had major issues in trying to offload fringe players such as Mathieu Debuchy, Carl Jenkinson and others this summer who were on high wages.
The recruitment of Alexandre Lacazette and Sead Kolasinac added extra pressure to the wage bill, and it seems likely that if the club had managed to sell their unwanted stars earlier in the summer, they could have competed more with Juve for Matuidi’s signature.
