Transfer Update – Latest On £30m Chelsea And Arsenal Target Talking About His Future

Monaco playmaker Joao Moutinho has revealed that he will not be moving anytime soon. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United were being linked with the Portuguese in recent months, but the news will come as a blow for the trio.

Moutinho said,  “I am not thinking about the January window, nor am I thinking about the end of the season. I don’t want anything to do with that. I am focused on Monaco.”

In the last few weeks, reports had emerged that the midfielder had grown disillusioned with the transfer dealings at the club as they sold the likes of James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao which showed a few signs that they weren’t competing with PSG. Their league form has deteriorated after the departure of key players.

It was also revealed that Moutinho was unhappy with the club’s policy of reducing the players wages as they were giving away and spending an exorbitant amount of money in a bid to compete with the cash-rich PSG.

Manchester United and Arsenal were prime candidates for Moutinho, especially the latter who could do with a central midfielder as the likes of Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta are entering the twilight of their careers. Moutinho is contracted with the club until 2018 and would have cost close to £30m in January.

The 28-year old has been a key player for Monaco since joining from Porto and is predominantly a deep lying playmaker but can play as an attacking midfielder. A look at Moutinho’s stats will tell you that he doesn’t score too many goals or provide too many assists as his role is to provide the passes from a deeper position to the attacking players. Moutinho has made a total of 23 appearances this season in all competitions and has helped his side reach the last 16 of the UEFA Champions league where his side will take on none other than Arsenal, the club that are being linked with him.