Arsenal learn £75m star wants Gunners move over Man Utd as contract talks stall

Arsenal and Manchester United transfer target Karim Adeyemi looks set to turn down the Red Devils as he favours a move to north London with Mikel Arteta's side instead next year

Manchester United are poised to be left frustrated in their pursuit of Karim Adeyemi, with the Borussia Dortmund forward understood to favour a move to Arsenal instead.

The 23-year-old has been monitored closely by United in recent months, but their hopes of landing the German international have taken a significant hit.

United chiefs have held early conversations with Adeyemi’s representative, Jorge Mendes, to gauge whether a deal could be possible next summer. However, manager Ruben Amorim may now be forced to turn his attention to alternative targets.

Dortmund have placed a £75million price tag on Adeyemi, considerably higher than what United are prepared to spend on the German forward.

The fee alone has complicated matters for the Premier League side, who are keen to strengthen their forward line ahead of next season. But that isn't all United should be worried about.

The biggest blow for the Red Devils is Adeyemi’s stance on his next destination. Sources in Germany suggest that if he leaves Dortmund, the player’s preferred move would be to Arsenal, not Old Trafford, placing Mikel Arteta’s side firmly in the driving seat, as per the Mirror.

Adeyemi is under contract at the Westfalenstadion until 2027, though talks over an extension have stalled. Dortmund are open to keeping the forward, but there is growing acceptance he may seek a new challenge in the summer.

From Adeyemi's perspective, Arsenal looks to be a steadier ship to sail on compared to United. Arteta's side are top of the Premier League and tied on points at the top of the Champions League.

Amorim's team do seem to be in better shape after a difficult start to the season, but a move to north London would increase Adeyemi's chances of playing in Europe, with United currently out and fighting for a top-four spot.

For Arsenal, the 23-year-old represents a versatile forward option capable of providing competition on both flanks - something Arteta was keen to bring into the squad over the summer.

Adeyemi has continued to emphasise his focus on Dortmund’s campaign, insisting in recent interviews that he remains committed to giving his maximum while the club searches for its first Bundesliga title in over a decade.

With the German’s contract expiring in 2027, and talks at a standstill, Dortmund are more likely to be open to a sale this summer rather than risking Adeyemi leaving for free in two years.

For now, Arteta will be focused on his team’s fixture this weekend, as they face Tottenham in the north London derby at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

For United, the chance of securing a deal for Adeyemi now seems increasingly unlikely, but the path for Arsenal to secure the 23-year-old’s talent is becoming clearer. Adeyemi’s future now looks set to be one of the more intriguing transfer stories heading into the summer.