Arsenal to return to Malaga for Cazorla replacement

According to the Daily Mirror, Arsenal have lined up a replacement for Santi Cazorla in the form of compatriot Pablo Fornals.

The Gunners’ popular Spaniard has sat out almost the entire season through injury and at 32 has not been handed a new contract, with his current deal expiring this summer. It seems likely that Cazorla has played his last game for Arsenal and the club have been identifying targets to fill his boots.

If reports from Spanish paper Marca are true then the Londoners have looked to a familiar destination to do so, and having signed Cazorla from Malaga in 2012 they are planning another raid on the Andalusians five years on.

21-year old Pablo Fornals has established himself as a first team regular for the Liga outfit this season, starting 28 games in a variety of midfield roles. His ability to play deep or further forward would certainly be a bonus, matching the adaptability of Cazorla, with the youngster able to contribute at both ends, averaging 1.9 tackles and 1.3 shots per game.

His 6-goal league tally this season is enough to rank second for mid-table Malaga this season, the last of which came in an excellent 4-2 win over Sevilla on Monday. Fornals is the top scoring midfielder aged 21 or under in Spain’s top-flight, and is believed to be valued at around £15m by his club.