Nkunku prepared to wait until the summer for Arsenal move

Paris Saint-Germain fringe player Christopher Nkunku is prepared to wait until the end of the season to join Arsenal, claims the player’s agent.

Unai Emery is keen to raid his former club for the 21-year-old but Arsenal can only afford loan signings this month.

PSG are prepared to loan Nkunku for the remainder of the season with an option to buy, but only if they can sign another central midfielder before Thursday’s deadline.

The Ligue 1 champions have already signed Leandro Paredes this month but have missed out on Borussia Dortmund starlet Julian Weigl and are struggling to get a deal over the line for Everton ace Idrissa Gueye.

Nkunku looks set to miss out on a January move but his agent, Jose-Karl Pierre-Fanfan, has suggested his client is willing to wait for Arsenal.

“I am here [in the studio], which is not a good thing,” he told the Late Football Club in France. “Arsenal really are interested in him, but talks are complicated.

“Arsenal are restricted - they cannot buy somebody mid-season. It is still being discussed with PSG and things could happen over the next 48 hours. However, like I said, me being here means that it does not look good.

“His situation will be assed in June, one year before his contract ends. He is young and need to play, enjoy himself and join a long-term project. He is looking for that and it was being discussed with Arsenal. It looks complicated, but he will wait.”

Nkunku has started five league games and made a further eight appearances as a substitute this season, though he has only started one match in his preferred position of central midfield.

The France Under-21 international made 20 league appearances under Emery last season and scored four goals.