Arsenal pounce where Tottenham failed to seal 2014 deal for Ever Banega

By Sam Leveridge

Ever Banega has been strongly linked with a move to rejoin former coach Unai Emery at Arsenal in January, in rumours fueled by Rosario 3, who say that the Gunners would trigger the player’s €20 million (£18 million) release clause.

If such a deal were to come off, it could lead to mixed emotions from Tottenham fans, given that the Mirror claimed in 2014 that the Lilywhites were pursuing a potential £5 million agreement for the now 30-year-old.

Instead, Banega opted to join Emery at Sevilla, having previously worked with the Spanish coach at Valencia. Now, he could finally make the move to London only to reunite with Emery for a fourth spell together.

SEVILLA, SPAIN – DECEMBER 16: Ever Banega of Sevilla FC during the La Liga Santander match between Sevilla v Girona at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on December 16, 2018 in Sevilla Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

The news will leave Tottenham fans ruing what could have been had Mauricio Pochettino got one of his first targets since moving to White Hart Lane, particularly given what he could be worth now.

If Banega proves to be a hit for the red half of north London, that feeling will only be emphasized, though Tottenham do have the likes of Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen in his place.

Arsenal too may wish that they had not got in on the action for the La Liga midfielder earlier given that they could have saved themselves a substantial amount of money in the process.