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Report: Arsenal defender in talks with Watford over January switch

Lee Connor

Fri 24 December 2021 10:45, UK

Watford want to sign Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac during the January transfer window, but the Gunners will need to supplement half of his wages if they want the deal to go ahead.

According to , Watford have indeed started talks with Arsenal about a deal for Kolasinac. The Bosnian is firmly down the pecking order, and would be open to another move away from North London.

However, any move to Watford will depend on Arsenal helping out with his wages. According to , the Hornets want Arsenal to split the defender’s salary down the middle. That would mean the Gunners forking out £50k-a-week just to let Kolasinac leave. According to , the Bosnian earns £100k-a-week at Arsenal.

It’s claimed Watford are desperate to sign a new left-back in January. A number of options, including Rangers defender Borna Barisic, have been added to the Hornets’ list. However, Kolasinac is seen as an ideal and easy option, given his situation with the Gunners.

Kolasinac signed for Arsenal in 2017. Arsene Wenger brought him on a free, however, things haven’t quite gone to plan and he spent last season away from London too.

TBR’s View: Arsenal Should Do All They Can To Get Kolasinac Moved On

Some of the wages at Arsenal are ridiculous. £100k-a-week for a player who has barely contributed just shows the size of the contracts given out in modern football.

Of course, it’s not that Kolasinac isn’t a good player in his own right. The problem is he’s eating a big chunk of Arsenal’s wage budget for no reason at all. This is something the Gunners need to get on top of, and they should look to get rid of Kolasinac the best way they can here.

Paying half his wages is not ideal. But if it leads to a permanent move, and £100k-a-week off the books by the summer, then it might be worth the hassle.