Arsenal attempted to bring back former academy player Ismael Bennacer before ultimately signing Jorginho to reinforce their midfield in January.

MILAN, ITALY - JULY 07: Ismael Bennacer of AC Milan gestures during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on July 7, 2020 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY – JULY 07: Ismael Bennacer of AC Milan gestures during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on July 7, 2020 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The Algerian international, now an established midfielder for AC Milan, was once a promising talent in the Gunners’ youth setup.

Ismael Bennacer joined Arsenal in 2015 from French side Arles-Avignon, but his time at the North London club was short-lived, as he made only one senior appearance in the League Cup before being sold to Italian side Empoli in 2017 for €1m.

Since leaving Arsenal, Bennacer has gone on to develop into a top-quality midfielder.

After a successful spell at Empoli, AC Milan secured his services in 2019.

The 25-year-old has become a key figure for the Rossoneri, showcasing his versatility, vision, and ability to dictate the tempo of a game and is valued at around €40m

It is now understood that Arsenal recognised their potential mistake in letting Bennacer go and attempted to bring him back to the Emirates before eventually signing Jorginho in the last transfer window.

The exact details of Arsenal’s pursuit of Bennacer remain unclear, but Calciomercato write that a change of agent saw Bennacer’s wages rise from €1.5m to €4m due to his desire “to win again with the Rossoneri, despite the courtship of Arsenal who, before closing for Jorginho, had tried seriously to bring the Algerian back home.”

Jorginho’s arrival at Arsenal has undoubtedly provided the team with the midfield backup they sought, but fans will wonder what might have been if Bennacer had returned to the club.

Given his impressive performances in Serie A and the Champions League, Bennacer’s potential impact at Arsenal could have been even more significant than the former Chelsea man’s has been.