Report: Unai Emery plans Arsenal raid for Reiss Nelson, another La Liga club also keen

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Unai Emery is hoping to raid former club Arsenal to complete the signing of Reiss Nelson, according to The Mirror (Live Transfer Blog; 31/01; 21:32).

Real Betis are also planning a swoop ahead of tonight’s transfer deadline.

Nelson has fallen way down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal and is seeking first-team football.

The 21-year-old has played nine times for the first-team this season, with just two outings in the Premier League.

He hasn’t even made a matchday squad in the top-flight since November and clearly isn’t fancied by Arteta.

Emery was another boss who didn’t always see Nelson as the first choice at Arsenal.

He managed just six appearances under the former boss but he clearly feels he can do a job in La Liga.

Emery’s team are currently fifth and he wants to bolster his attacking arsenal as he bids to take his team into Europe.

Nelson has 12 England under-21 caps to his name and really needs to leave Arsenal.

Arsenal will be reluctant to offload the versatile winger permanently but getting him out on loan looks like a wise move.

The £15,000-a-week trickster needs to play and if he performs well he could earn a chance at the Emirates Stadium.

TBR View: Loaning Nelson out looks wise

Arteta has done some good business and some bad during his time in charge but loaning Nelson out seems like a no-brainer.

Playing under Emery will be interesting and the former boss nurturing a player ready for the Arsenal first-team provides an interesting twist of fate.

Nelson is a decent player but his career has stagnated somewhat this season.

If he heads to Spain and plays plenty of football, he could earn an Arsenal reprieve next season.

The Hale End graduate enjoyed a loan spell at Hoffenheim previously, scoring seven goals.

A similar run at Villarreal, or Real Betis, and he could earn more of a chance in North London.