Arsenal's move for Mikel Arteta takes a twist | OneFootball

It seems Mikel Arteta isn’t certain to be the next manager of Arsenal after all.

Reports on Wednesday afternoon claimed Arteta had left Manchester City and was poised to become the Gunners’ new permanent boss following the sacking of Unai Emery last month.

Furthermore, The Sun reported that the former Arsenal midfielder had spent the entirety of Tuesday at the club’s London Colney training ground thrashing out contract terms and had even discussed potential transfer targets.

But Arteta was on the Manchester City bench as Pep Guardiola’s side took on Oxford United in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, and it seems the Spaniard’s return to the Emirates isn’t quite signed and sealed yet.

The issue would appear to relate to compensation. City are reportedly demanding £1m to release Arteta and as yet, Arsenal haven’t coughed up.

In fact, the BBC report that Arsenal are yet to even make formal contact with City about their assistant manager.

A City source was quoted as telling the BBC: “It’s surprising to hear that plans are being made by Arsenal to unveil our coach as their Head Coach on Friday on the basis that no contact has been made by the club to discuss this matter.”

The Gunners face Everton in the Premier League on Saturday lunch-time, and they’d better get their act together if they want to have a new manager in place by then.