Mesut Özil is being linked for an Arsenal exit after his absence in Sunday’s North London derby, but are the stories reliable, and who could Unai Emery sign to replace him if so?

4Miguel Almiron

Lanus' midfielder Miguel Almiron celebrates after scoring the team's second goal against San Lorenzo during an Argentina First Divison football final match at the Momnumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on May 29, 2016. / AFP / ALEJANDRO PAGNI (Photo credit should read ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP/Getty Images)
Lanus’ midfielder Miguel Almiron celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal against San Lorenzo during an Argentina First Divison football final match at the Momnumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on May 29, 2016. / AFP / ALEJANDRO PAGNI (Photo credit should read ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP/Getty Images)
  • Age: 24
  • Position: Attacking Midfield
  • Club: Atlanta United
  • Contract until: 2020
  • Estimated market value: £9m

The Almiron saga has been a bit back and forth so far. Fox Sports announced last month that Arsenal had agreed on an £11.5m deal to sign the midfielder from the MLS. That was followed up by a clarification from his agent that hinted at contact but said nothing was formal.

Since then, however, the comments of the 24-year-old’s agent have fallen by the wayside. The story of Almiron’s signing dominated the headlines for a while anyway, despite it being reported that the original comments from Atlanta’s president, Darren Eales, were not true:

However, genuine comments have since come out from the player’s agent claiming that whilst there’s still nothing concrete, Almiron will ‘certainly’ play in the Premier League. That’s that then.

Almiron has scored 13 goals and assisted 13 as well in his 35 appearances this year so far. Thanks to the calendar year format of the MLS, his season will end as the January transfer window opens. For now, Atlanta are preparing for an MLS Cup playoff semi-final.

Click ‘Next’ for more Arsenal-linked Mesut Özil replacements