Layvin Kurzawa 2 — France's defender Layvin Kurzawa (L) and Iceland's defender Birkir Saevarsson vie for the ball during the UEFA Euro 2020 Group H qualification football match between France and Iceland at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on March 25, 2019. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Ornstein: Arsenal held talks with Kurzawa, not PSG

Jan 21, 2020

David Ornstein clarified this week that Arsenal are in talks with Layvin Kurzawa directly over a potential transfer, not with Paris Saint-Germain.

SINGAPORE - JULY 28: Layvin Kurzawa #20 of Paris Saint Germain walks during the International Champions Cup match between Arsenal and Paris Saint Germain at the National Stadium on July 28, 2018 in Singapore. (Photo by Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images for ICC) — SINGAPORE – JULY 28: Layvin Kurzawa #20 of Paris Saint Germain walks during the International Champions Cup match between Arsenal and Paris Saint Germain at the National Stadium on July 28, 2018, in Singapore. (Photo by Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images for ICC)

Speaking on The Ornstein and Chapman Podcast this week, Ornstein clarified the situation between Arsenal and Layvin Kurzawa as things stand.

Last week, we heard Arsenal were deep in talks with the player’s representatives. However, PSG sporting director Leonardo then claimed they had ‘nothing’ from Arsenal. Ornstein explained the reason for the confusion.

“We reported last week that Arsenal were in advanced talks to sign him,” Ornstein began. “There’s a bit of confusion, people asking me ‘how does that square with Leonardo, the sporting director at PSG, coming out and saying there have been no talks with us for him?’.

“Well, we never reported that there had been talks with Paris Saint-Germain. We just reported they (Kurzawa and Arsenal) were in advanced talks. The reason being that he’s a free agent in the summer, so he’s in the last six months of his contract.

“Therefore, under Bosman rules, you talk directly to the player. Those negotiations are up to Arsenal and the player’s representatives to sort out. Presumably, you would then go and strike a deal with Paris Saint-Germain.

One important thing to note on the quotes above is that even though Ornstein said Kurzawa and Arsenal ‘were’ in advanced talks, he clarified on Twitter that they still are. This process is clearly still ongoing.

Could it happen this month?

Layvin Kurzawa 4 — SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE – JULY 30: Layvin Kurzawa of Paris Saint Germain controls the ball during the International Champions Cup match between Paris Saint Germain and Club de Atletico Madrid at the National Stadium on July 30, 2018, in Singapore. (Photo by Lionel Ng/Getty Images)

Just because Arsenal haven’t made an offer to PSG just yet, doesn’t mean they don’t plan to.

They’re free to agree a deal with Kurzawa first, as he’s in the final months of his contract. Once they know they have him on board, that’s when they might push to get it done this month. Ornstein doesn’t believe that will be straightforward though.

“It’s really unclear if that one is going to be done in this window,” Ornstein admitted. “Maybe something for the summer. It’s probably quite a tense situation there.

“I think there would be a feeling from Arsenal’s perspective that they can strike a deal with Kurzawa. But you’re in a position of having to then make sure you can do it with Paris Saint-Germain. I don’t think that’s going to be easy.”

The problem is that Kurzawa is now back in the PSG starting lineup. He made the team for both of their last two games, playing 90 minutes each time. While he’s playing, Arsenal will have a harder time convincing his club to let him go.