Arsenal like PSG forward Lee Kang-in, with the player considering his options at his current club, according to a report.
James McNicholas reports for The Athletic that one name under discussion at Arsenal could be Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in. The Gunners reportedly like the forward and he’s well known to them, whilst the player himself is open to a new challenge.
Lee is considering his options at PSG, though the club aren’t actively looking to sell. They’d want at least double the €22m they paid to sign him, putting a potential deal at a minimum of £36.5m.
That figure is reportedly off-putting to Arsenal, but the Gunners could come to the table if PSG consider a loan with an option to buy.
To a certain extent, Lee has been in and out of the PSG lineup this season. He’s made nine league starts versus seven substitute appearances, and three Champions League starts versus three substitute appearances, so perhaps a move to a club where he’d start more regularly could be appealing.
Having said that, the winger hasn’t missed a single game in all competitions this season. He might not always be in the starting lineup, but he’s always involved at some stage.
With six goals and two assists, Lee is averaging a goal contribution every 171 minutes. That’s a slight improvement on his record in 2023/24, though a little underwhelming for a player who could cost around £40m.
The counter-argument is that Lee has had to play a variety of positions for PSG, from the wings to the midfield and even right-back. A more consistent run in a forward position could result in a better output.
A left-footer, Lee could add to Mikel Arteta’s options while Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri are out. The Gunners are likely to be forced to use right-footed players on the right-hand side for the time being, messing with the team dynamics.
For the time being, the situation doesn’t seem to be particularly advanced, so we’ll see how things progress as the month goes on.