Despite reports to the contrary and informal discussions earlier in the year, Arsenal haven’t made a bid for Nabil Fekir this summer.

ESP: Real Betis - Levante UD. La Liga Santander. Nabil Fekir of Real Betis during the La Liga match between Real Betis and Levante UD played at Benito Villamarin Stadium on March 19, 2021 in Sevilla, Spain. Copyright: Antonio Pozo/PRESSINPHOTO
ESP: Real Betis – Levante UD. La Liga Santander. Nabil Fekir of Real Betis during the La Liga match between Real Betis and Levante UD played at Benito Villamarin Stadium on March 19, 2021, in Sevilla, Spain. Copyright: Antonio Pozo/PRESSINPHOTO

Over the weekend, reports from AS in Spain emerged that Arsenal had submitted an offer to sign Nabil Fekir this summer. AS claimed the Gunners’ bid was well below what Real Betis wanted, and they’d rejected the offer as a result.

Charles Watts denies the story. The English journalist says he’s been told Arsenal have not made a bid (or had one rejected) for Fekir. The Gunners haven’t firmed up their interest in the player since their initial informal discussions over him.

It was Watts who reported a few months ago that Fekir was one of the alternatives to Martin Odegaard this summer, with the suggestion Betis would ask for around £26m for his signature.

With a move for Odegaard now seemingly off the table, Arsenal are expected to step up their interest in other targets. But for Fekir, the situation evidently hasn’t progressed since the start of the summer.

Fekir scored five goals and assisted six in 38 appearances this season, helping Betis reach the Copa Del Rey quarter-finals and finish sixth in La Liga.