Arsenal could miss out on £6.8m Belgian starlet

Rob McCarthy

Henry Onyekuru, a summer target for Arsenal, has stated his desire to play regular first-team football and not just join a “big club”.

The 20-year-old is reportedly wanted by a host of clubs across Europe, due to his goalscoring exploits for Belgian outfit KAS Eupen.

Indeed, the Gunners are not the only Premier League team showing an interest in the forward, with West Ham also said to be in the running for a player who has been valued at £6.8million.

However, Onyekuru has thrown a potential spanner in the works of Arsenal trying to sign him by insisting that he will not accept a bench role wherever he moves to.

“The first and most important thing for a player is to get playing time,” Onyekuru told KweseESPN. “I’m still young and I still have a long career to pursue but now I need to play.

“My agents are in talks with top clubs in the Premier League, Bundesliga, French league and others. If they accept our terms, then I’ll make a decision.

“It’s not just about going to a big club and sitting on the bench. It’s not good for me, or being loaned to a club where I won’t play or where I will struggle to play.

“The money can come later but for now, I just want to play to improve, not just to play for a big club.”