Kia Joorabchian rubbishes rumours linking Joelson with Arsenal
Kia Joorabchian, Joelson’s agent, has rubbished rumours linking his client with a move to Arsenal in an interview with Talksport via ZRAFC.
The 17 year old has been heavily linked with a move to North London this summer. It was reported that the Gunners had made an opening bid of £18 million that was rejected by Sporting Lisbon. They were rumoured to have made a second offer of £29 million that was also turned down by the Portuguese club. Joelson has a £41 million release clause and Sporting will not sell him unless his buyout clause is triggered.
The player’s agent who has strong links to members of the Arsenal hierarchy has said that he hasn’t even mentioned the player to the Gunners and the rumours linking Joelson with a move to North London are untrue.
Willian, another Joorabchian client, is expected to sign for Arsenal on a free transfer this summer. He will sign a three year contract worth £100,000 a week. The Brazilian’s agent said that the 32 year old had a fantastic seven years at Chelsea and enjoyed a great relationship with current Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard. He also said that he knows where Willian is headed and that it would be announced soon.
The British-Iranian businessman said that when he spoke to Jose Mourinho after Pierre Emile Hojberg sealed his move to Spurs from Southampton, the Tottenham boss had suggested that Joorabchian had tried to take the player to Arsenal, according to Talksport via ZRAFC. He made it clear that Hojberg was never an Arsenal target.
Joorabchian denied having an undue influence over transfers at Arsenal but had a dig at former Gunners head of recruitment Sven Mislintat, according to Talksport via James Olley of ESPN. He said the German transfer guru had made a bunch of cockups with players he brought in at very large numbers. Mislintat was Arsenal’s head of recruitment from December 2017 to February 2019.
