AS claim Athletic Bilbao deal for Monreal Players First team Transfers Transfers out by Arseblog News Hound - July 15, 2015 Time posted: 9:30 am 20 According to a report in Spanish publication AS, Arsenal have accepted a €10 million offer from Athletic Bilbao for Nacho Monreal. It’s claimed the left-back has agreed a 3-year deal with the Basque club after the Gunners decided not to offer the Spaniard an extension to the contract he signed in January 2013. We’re slightly dubious about the story given the 29-year-old was one of Arsenal’s most improved players last year and in light of his recent comments underlining a desire to prolong his stay at the Emirates. Monreal made 39 appearances for the Gunners last season, including a stint as an auxiliary centre-back in the early months, as he usurped Kieran Gibbs as the club’s first choice left-back. The ex-Malaga man did travel to the Far East and could feature in today’s friendly against a Singapore XI. AS also claim that Arsenal will direct any funds received from the sale of Monreal to the signing of Napoli’s Algerian left-back Faouzi Ghoulam. Born in Paris, the 24-year-old started his career at St Etienne before moving to Naples in 2014. We’re going for 6 on the poo-o-meter…AS talk in a very assertive tone about the deal, but we’re still not sure. 6poos Perhaps we’re in denial as the ‘We built this city on Monreal’ chant hasn’t even had time to bed in. Sad face.