Arsenal
Arsenal handed boost in signing €80m-rated star with 30 goal contributions last season – report
Arsenal have been handed a boost in signing Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez this summer, according to The Athletic. The Gunners have been touted to sign a new striker this summer, and it was recently reported that they had made an enquiry for Martinez. It is now claimed that the Nerazzurri would be willing to sell the Argentine at the right price, and personal terms won’t be a stumbling block. Martinez would be interested in joining the Gunners this summer. He stands to earn a significant rise on his €2.5 million annual wages. The Gunners could sanction the sales of Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette to recoup part of the funds required for Martinez’s transfer. Sportslens view: Martinez made a slow start to his Inter career, but he has made excellent progress over the past cou...
Lokonga and Pepe start, Predicted Arsenal line-up (4-2-3-1) vs Chelsea – The Mind Series
Arsenal host Chelsea in a pre-season friendly on Sunday. The game is being played as part of The Mind Series to support better mental health. Tottenham Hotspur are also involved in the mini-tournament. They will be involved against Chelsea and Arsenal on August 4 & 8 respectively. Formation: 4-2-3-1 Predicted Line-up: Bernd Leno played his first pre-season game against Watford in midweek. The German is likely to start between the sticks for the London derby. Calum Chambers jumped ahead of Hector Bellerin in the pecking order for the right-back role towards the end of the previous campaign. He is likely to get the nod with Kieran Tierney starting in the opposite end. Ben White has had just one training session since his arrival. The centre-back could be restricted to a cameo role. With ...
Arsene Wenger makes managerial decision amid Switzerland interest
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will turn down a potential return to management with Switzerland, The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath reports. The 71-year-old has been out of management since leaving the Premier League giants in 2018 after a hugely successful stint of 22 years. Over the past two years, he has been working with FIFA as their chief of global football development while also being involved as a TV pundit. He has been linked with a return to coaching on several occasions, and it has recently been reported that Switzerland could make an approach. The Swiss had an impressive Euro 2020 under Vladimir Petkovic as they reached their first-ever quarter-final after beating competition favourites France. After seven years, Petkovic has moved on to become the new head coach of Bordea...
European club set to sign long-term Arsenal target for just €6m upfront – report
Lyon are on the cusp of landing the signature of Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana, French publication L’Equipe claims. The Cameroon international is currently under a FIFA-imposed ban after mistakenly taking a medical drug that was deemed illegal. His suspension was recently reduced from 12 to nine months, but he can’t return to competitive action until November 4. However, he can be involved in team training two months earlier, and it appears that Lyon are set to win the race for his services. Premier League club Arsenal have been long-term admirers, and it appeared last month that they were favourites to sign him. Bernd Leno’s presence has probably proved a roadblock, and Onana is now on the verge of joining Les Gones on a cut-price deal. Ajax were looking for €8 million for Onana, who has en...
Arsenal should avoid £42.5m playmaker and sign 24-year-old star
Arsenal will head into the upcoming Premier League season eager to prove they can still mix it with the big boys. Four FA Cup successes in the last eight years have failed to mask the fact that the Gunners have slipped off the pace in the league. They won their last title in 2003/04 and haven’t finished higher than fifth in the table over the past five seasons. Two successive eighth-place finishes have left the fans feeling frustrated, and the pressure is on manager Mikel Arteta to turn things around. Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares are a promising start to this summer’s transfer business, while Ben White’s addition should help to shore up the defence. The news that Granit Xhaka may be offered a new contract is not as daft as it seems, particularly given the improvement he showed las...
Arsenal and West Ham United target makes £130,000-a-week salary demand – report
Tammy Abraham wants around £130,000-a-week if he leaves Chelsea during the ongoing transfer window, Football Insider reports. The England international has been heavily linked with a move away from the Blues with links from West Ham United, Arsenal and Aston Villa. The interest from Villa has faded in recent weeks, and it appears that the Hammers and Gunners could compete for his signature this summer. Abraham is currently on a weekly salary of £50,000. He is set to demand a significant increase of £80,000 if he secures a move elsewhere. The Blues value the striker at £40 million, but reports suggest that a fee of around £35m could be sufficient to seal the player’s transfer. Sportslens view: Abraham played just 16 minutes for the Blues between March and May as Tim...
Report: Arsenal open talks to sign Brazil international likened to Kevin de Bruyne
Arsenal have opened talks with Lyon over a potential £30 million deal for midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, according to Goal. Gunners manager Mikel Arteta would love to land Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli, but a deal is proving difficult, with Juventus also keen on the Italy international. Arsenal have now identified Guimaraes as an alternative, with the Ligue 1 outfit open to selling as they are struggling to balance the books after losing Memphis Depay on a free transfer to Barcelona. Sportslens View The Gunners need to get in quality players this summer if they want to qualify for Europe next season after disappointingly missing out last term, and their long-term target would be a solid addition. The Brazil international is already valued double the fee Lyon paid for him, and the north...
Club want to resolve future of €40m Arsenal target, won’t sell after August 8 – report
Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali has set a transfer deadline for midfielder Manuel Locatelli, who is on the radar of Juventus and Arsenal. The Italy international made a good impression at the European Championships this summer, and he has been fancied to pursue a bigger challenge. The Gunners are keen on luring him to the Premier League, and they have reportedly made an opening bid worth €40 million for his services. However, Locatelli has the preference to stay in the Serie A with his dream club Juventus, which has stalled their prospects of signing him. In an interview with Sky Sport Italy, Carnevali confirmed that the club will hold direct talks with the Bianconeri to discuss the future of Locatelli. He added that the club are willing to sell their prized asset to the Turin giants,...
Top Arsenal target could be available for €50m if he decides to leave – report
Real Madrid are prepared to sell Martin Odegaard for €50 million this summer if he insists on leaving, ESPN reports. Odegaard played under 400 minutes under Zinedine Zidane during the first half of last season before making the loan move to Arsenal. The Norwegian played 20 games for the Gunners. He had a positive influence with two goals and two assists while creating several other chances. The Gunners are keeping a close eye on him this summer, and they could be handed a boost in re-signing him permanently in the coming weeks. Odegaard is still undecided over his future at the Madrid giants. If he decides to leave, the club plan to demand around €50m for his sale. They won’t entertain the prospect of another loan deal, considering their lingering debts and the need to ease some ...
Playmaker set to leave Real Madrid amid interest from Arsenal
Real Madrid are looking to part ways with Spanish midfielder Isco this summer. According to news outlet ABC, the 29-year-old is surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu Stadium. Since Julen Lopetegui’s sacking, Isco has not been a mainstay in Madrid’s first team. Los Blancos are reportedly unwilling to pay over €13 million gross in wages to a substitute. The Spaniard is pushing for a move away from Madrid as he wants more game time. He was close to leaving the club in January before Martin Odegaard’s exit forced him to stay. Several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, are interested in a deal but are unwilling to splurge massive amounts of money on Isco’s wages. At the age of 29, Isco is eyeing a challenge at a new club to revive his career. He is way down the pecking order at Madrid, ...
Arsenal lining up deal for versatile teenage forward, could be signed for just £1m
Arsenal are lining up a move for Pacos Ferreira teenager Matchoi Djalo, The Sun reports. The 18-year-old made his first-team debut during the 2019/2020 season, but he has since registered only eight appearances for his club. Despite the limited exposure, he has caught the Gunners radar through his performances for the reserves and the Portugal Under 19s. He is available for just £1 million. The Gunners see him as a long-term prospect. Sportslens view: The Gunners have recently found success from their academy with Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe standing out with the first-team squad. Folarin Balogun is a player to watch out for this term. There are several other youngsters, who could make the grade in the coming years. Djalo is a left winger by trade, but he has also played as a sec...
Atletico Madrid keen on signing Arsenal forward, could be available for just £15m – report
Atletico Madrid have revived their interest in signing Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, Calciomercato reports. The La Liga giants are long-term admirers of the Frenchman, and they could lure him on a cut-price deal this summer. Lacazette recently entered the final year of his contract with the Gunners, and the club are prepared to sanction his sale. Sportslens view: Lacazette was the Gunners’ top-scorer last term with 17 goals in 43 games, but he could be on the move as he is no longer indispensable. The hierarchy have no plans of extending his deal, and it has been reported that he could be sold for a fee of around £15 million. The London club have their sights on landing Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham as his replacement but need to recoup funds first. Meanwhile, the interest from Diego...
