Arsenal 'offered chance' to sign Bukayo Saka replacement in January for absolutely nothing

Arsenal have reportedly been offered a handy solution to Bukayo Saka’s injury lay-off. The England forward has undergone surgery after limping off with a hamstring injury in the win over Crystal Palace on December 21.

Mikel Arteta has since admitted his key man is set to be missing for at least two months, a potential hammer blow to their Premier League title and Champions League chances.

Raheem Sterling, a candidate to replace Saka in the starting XI, is also currently sidelined with a date not yet put on his return.

But according to multiple reports, the Gunners haven’t had to go looking for a solution. PSG are said to have contacted the club to offer them the chance to sign Randal Kolo Muani on loan until the end of the season, with a view to buying in the summer.

The 26-year-old has struggled for his best form in France since his £76million switch from Eintracht Frankfurt in September 2023. He struck nine times for the Parisians in his debut season, but has just two goals and a single assist in 10 appearances this time around.

Manager Luis Enrique has seemingly lost patience with the player, who has also been linked with Manchester United and Liverpool. He is reportedly not part of the club’s first-team plans for the foreseeable future.

And given Arsenal’s current Saka situation, and the need to ensure they have squad depth if they are to hunt down leaders Liverpool in the Premier League, Arteta may relish the prospect of Kolo Muani revitalising himself at the Emirates. The absence of any initial fee will also be seen as another plus point.

He has 27 international caps, and his preference for a wide forward role could make him an ideal replacement for Saka. Arteta has previously been coy on his plans to cope without the 23-year-old, implying he would be looking to improvise with his current squad.

“He has had a procedure and everything went well, but unfortunately he will be out for many, many weeks,” he said after Friday’s win over Ipswich. “It will be more than two months. I don’t know exactly how much longer.

“The replacement of Bukayo is going to be the team. There were moments where it flowed well tonight and moments where you could see there is still work to do. But I am certain that we are going to do that. We have to rely on the team and not the individual.”

Gabriel Martinelli took Saka’s role in the 1-0 win, but failed to impress in a tame Arsenal attacking display. Arteta has come under constant scrutiny over his forward players in the past three seasons, amid perceptions his squad lacks the clinical ability needed to win the Premier League.