Arsenal have reportedly suffered a setback in their attempts to sign Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain, who could instead be part of a sensational swap deal with an Aston Villa striker.
The Gunners have long been tipped to move for a new attacker, and even more so now following the news that Bukayo Saka will be missing for two months with a hamstring injury.
Mikel Arteta has held off on bringing in a new number nine over the past couple of windows thanks to the presence of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, the former of whom has hit a rich vein of form again.
Jesus made it six goals in four appearances with his equaliser in the Gunners' 3-1 success over Brentford on New Year's Day, which Havertz missed due to illness, leaving Arsenal with a threadbare set of attacking options on the bench.
Havertz was also ruled out of the trip to Brighton & Hove Albion due to his bug, and the added absence of knee victim Raheem Sterling saw youth products Ismeal Kabia and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji make the bench instead.
Villa aiming to pull off 'sensational' Kolo Muani swap?
© Imago
Arteta has affirmed on multiple occasions that the Gunners are open to deals for the right players in January, where they could apparently be offered the chance to sign PSG's Kolo Muani on loan.
The Frenchman is out of favour and struggling for form at the Parc des Princes, only managing two goals and one assist in 14 matches, but according to Football Insider, Villa have their eyes on an audacious swap deal.
The report claims that PSG could try to negotiate a transfer that would see Kolo Muani head to Villa Park in exchange for Jhon Duran and a cash sum, and the two clubs will apparently hold a meeting next week.
Amid Kolo Muani's struggles in the French capital, Duran has taken Aston Villa by storm this season with 12 goals from 26 appearances in all competitions, including seven goals in the Premier League.
The 21-year-old briefly demoted Ollie Watkins from the starting lineup after a fabulous run of scoring off the bench, but he is currently serving a suspension for a furious outburst after being sent off against Newcastle United on Boxing Day.
What attacking alternatives can Arsenal target?
© Imago
Kolo Muani for Duran would be a sensational swap deal indeed, and one that Villa would not sanction without a sizeable cash figure to boot, so this will be an incredibly challenging one for the French champions to pull off.
However, Arsenal will not be putting all of their offensive eggs in one basket, and the Gunners are said to be seriously exploring a mid-season deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha.
The Old Gold are understandably desperate to keep hold of the Brazilian amid their relegation scrap, though, and they are reportedly hoping to ward off the Gunners' interest in Cunha with a new contract.
A loan move for Real Madrid's Arda Guler has also been mooted, but long-term targets Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting Lisbon) and Alexander Isak (Newcastle United) will not be attainable this month under any circumstances.
Ben Knapton
