Dani Olmo to Arsenal? What they're not telling you about this rumour

Analysis

Tom Weber | Writer

Barcelona attacker Dani Olmo is being linked with numerous clubs, including Arsenal and Bayern Munich.

The 28-year-old has suddenly found himself in the spotlight. With clubs beginning to mull over their January transfer business, Olmo's name has emerged on the radar of several possible suitors.

On Thursday, Sky Sports reported that Bayern Munich had begun "lining up" a mid-season move for the Spain international. The reason, apparently, is uncertainty surrounding the futures of Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise.

Now, TEAMtalk claims that Arsenal and several other Premier League heavyweights have been informed by intermediaries that Olmo could be available in the winter transfer window. Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd and Tottenham are known to have been contacted.

Some clubs are said to have expressed a potential interest in adding the attacking midfielder, although no formal discussions have taken place at this stage. It is only September, after all.

Why the Olmo links make little sense

The sudden surge of rumours surrounding Olmo seems a bit strange. Of course, it is perhaps not surprising that he has admirers around Europe - he is a productive senior Spain international and a very tidy player - but the timing is very conspicuous.

The 28-year-old is not a guaranteed starter for Barcelona and has been a substitute five times in seven LaLiga games so far in this nascent season. The ever-dangerous Fermin Lopez has firmly overtaken his compatriot in the pecking order.

These fresh Olmo links seem more like an attempt from Barcelona to drum up interest because they deem him surplus to requirements, or by his agent, Andy Bara, to put pressure on the Catalans to play him more by claiming that suitors are queuing up.

Few, if any, of the clubs being linked with Olmo have any use for him right now. It is reported that he could cost around €70 million in January, which begs the question: who would pay that for him?

Bayern aren't going to spend €70m in January on another attacking midfielder - they have plenty already after signing Ismail Saibari this summer. The club also remain fully supportive of Musiala, and he is not expected to be available.

The Olise case is more interesting because there is no clear direction of travel - he could sign a new contract, or he could look to leave the club in 2027 or 2028. What's clear, though, is that he won't be on the move in January.

Why would they overpay for a 28-year-old in January when Olise could still sign a new contract? Moreover, the Frenchman almost exclusively plays on the right wing for Bayern, so Olmo would not be a suitable replacement anyway.

Bayern are long-standing admirers of Olmo, as are Arsenal, but this seems more like rehashing old news rather than anything that is going to develop. The Gunners don't him either.

Yes, Olmo can play on the left wing if need be, but if you're going to spend €70m on someone in January, surely you allocate that money to a specialist wide player, not another tweener like Eberechi Eze.

Chelsea, Tottenham and the Manchester clubs also don't have any apparent need for Olmo. There is an argument to be made that he wouldn't be a guaranteed starter at any of these clubs, except maybe Spurs.

This is also backed up by data from analytics firm SciSports. Using its Career Advice tool, we can see that Olmo is a middling fit at best for all of the clubs mentioned here. Even Man City, who get the highest score, are not a remotely convincing destination.

Plus, there is now the looming spectre of heavy financial and sporting sanctions due to their 115 alleged charges following the news that they have been found guilty of 114 of them.

All of this is to say that the Olmo links just don't make any sense. Unless his price tag is massively reduced, he isn't going anywhere in January, except perhaps Saudi Arabia, but this would be a shock as he remains in the Spain picture despite his lack of minutes and surely has ambitions of staying there.

The grass isn't always greener, and at 28, Olmo might just have to accept that he is now best suited as a luxury substitute. He played almost 3,000 minutes last season but only produced eight goals and 10 assists.

It is perhaps understandable, then, that Barcelona feel that it is now Fermin's time to shine.

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