Arsenal OUT of Odegaard race – latest, Smith Rowe to Villa ‘£25m bid REJECTED’, Maddison transfer, Ramsdale EXCLUSIVE

LOK AND LISTEN

Anderlecht have reportedly rejected Arsenal’s £12million bid for star man Albert Sambi Lokonga.

HLN claims the midfielder is seen as the ideal replacement for Roma-bound Granit Xhaka.

But Mikel Arteta is some way off meeting Anderlecht’s valuation.

WELCOME MATT

Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi has agreed personal terms with French side Marseille, according to reports.

The 22-year-old has not played for the Gunners since June 2020 and spent last term on loan at Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Guendouzi has agreed a deal with Marseille.

The Ligue 1 team are now believed to be discussing a fee with Arsenal for the Frenchman.

ODE ONE OUT

Arsenal are set to fail in their pursuit of a permanent deal for Martin Odegaard.

The Athletic claims there is no chance the Norwegian will stay at the Emirates after his loan came to an end this month.

Carlo Ancelotti is back at Real Madrid after leaving Everton and plans on giving Odegaard a go in his team.

But it could mean there’s a reprieve for Joe Willock, who impressed while on loan at Newcastle.

BEN WHITE LATEST

Brighton have reportedly rejected a £40million bid from Arsenal for defender Ben White.

Sky Sports claims the Gunners launched their ambitious offer on Wednesday for Graham Potter’s England star.

But Brighton rejected the offer after reportedly slapping White with a £50m price-tag following his Euros call-up.

However, it’s added that Arsenal remain undeterred and are expected to return with an improved offer.

IVAN TONEY LATEST

Ivan Toney will have a ‘very difficult choice to make’ if Arsenal make a move for the Brentford striker this summer.

Former Bees hero Sam Sodje told All Nigeria Soccer: “There’s a time I was in that position where you play for Brentford and big clubs come for you.

“Brentford have gone up, Toney had a great season so this might be the opportunity to play for a top of the Premier League club.

“But at the same time you want him to play games in the Premier League so he has to go to a club or stay at Brentford where he’ll get games in the Premier League.

“When it comes to individual goals, it’s not every day you get the opportunity to play for Arsenal, Manchester United or the big clubs, so it is a very difficult choice to make.

“There are two things, either you stay at Brentford, play every game or take the opportunity to play for a big club.”

BRIGHT IDEA

North London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal are set to battle it out off the pitch for right-back Tariq Lamptey, according to reports.

The 20-year-old only joined Brighton from Chelsea in January 2020 but his stock has rapidly risen following a string of impressive performances.

Lamptey’s current campaign has been hampered by injuries having been sidelined since December.

But his fitness concerns won’t deter both Premier League clubs from making an audacious transfer swoop this summer.

The Seagulls are confident of hanging on to the rising star with the player penning a contract extension until 2025 in January.

The Daily Mail write how Brighton are unlikely to entertain any offers under £50million. Spurs have prioritised signing a new right-back with Serge Aurier set for a reunion with Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint-Germain.

EMILE APPRECIATION

Arsenal have posted an Emile Smith Rowe appreciation tweet after they reportedly rejected a £25million bid for him from Aston Villa.

The Gunners uploaded a video montage of the 20-year-old and it quickly received more than 4,000 likes.

EUR THE BEST

England stars Harry Kane and Jadon Sancho both make the most valuable Euro 2020 XI – but NO Arsenal players make the cut.

Sancho – a summer transfer target for Manchester United – is currently worth a sensational £86million.

Dortmund are looking to recoup that to the final penny, with United’s first bid of the year £11m short, at £75m.

But his £86m tag is enough for Sancho to make it into the Euro 2020 most valuable team worth €1.04BILLION (£890m) at right midfield.

On the opposite wing, France star Kylian Mbappe is the priciest star, valued at £137m.

The rest of the midfield is made up of Belgium star Kevin de Bruyne (£86m), Germany ace Joshua Kimmich and Holland’s Frenkie de Jong (both £77m).

WHAT YOU GUNNER DO?

Roy Keane has described Patrick Vieira as a ‘typical Arsenal bully’ while reminiscing over their Premier League title battles.

One incident saw the pair clash before a 2005 meeting between Arsenal and Manchester United at Highbury after Gary Neville told Keane Vieira had chased him off the pitch after the warm-up.

For Keane, the situation was not of pressing importance until Vieira continued his tirade in the tunnel.

The Irishman said: “To be honest, I was trying to mind my own business. I was focusing on the game and was quite calm, getting in the zone.

“Gary was a little bit upset and worried. I think I said to Gary, ‘Just forget about it, we need to focus on the game’.

“And then of course Patrick wouldn’t let it go – a typical Arsenal bully. Then he started in the tunnel before the game and that’s where I got a little bit irritated.”

LOC & KEY

Arsenal have been handed a blow in their attempts to sign Italy’s Euro 2020 star Manuel Locatelli, according to reports.

The Sassuolo midfielder showed his ability on the world stage on Wednesday night by scoring twice in his country’s 3-0 win over Switzerland.

The Gunners had already been tracking the 23-year-old star following his impressive campaign for the Serie A side.

Boss Mikel Arteta is eager to strengthen his midfield with Matteo Guendouzi, Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos heading for the exit door.

Sassuolo had slapped a £35million price-tag on their ace before the start of the tournament but that is now likely to rise.

According to the Express, Juventus are ready to make their move and are likely to be winning the race ahead of Arsenal for his signature.

FRESH START

Arsenal are preparing for a major squad overhaul this summer which could see the likes of James Maddison, Ben White and Aaron Ramsdale arrive.

Earlier this month, the Gunners released NINE players, including David Luiz – with Martin Odegaard, Dani Ceballos and Mat Ryan’s loans ending.

And that will force Mikel Arteta to dive into the transfer market to bring in reinforcements.

Among the priorities for the Emirates chief is a new goalkeeper, with Bernd Leno’s career in North London seemingly over.

Arsenal have been linked with banned Ajax stopper Andre Onana in recent weeks.

But the Gunners have turned their attention to Sheffield United ace Aaron Ramsdale.

LOKONGA LATEST

Arsenal have had an opening bid of £12million rejected for Anderlecht ace Albert Sambi Lokonga.

That is according to HLN, who claim the Gunners have seen their opening bid turned down by the Belgian outfit.

Midfielder Lokonga is one of Anderlecht’s standout performers despite being just 21.

And with both Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi set to leave this summer, manager Mikel Arteta is looking for someone to partner up with Thomas Partey in midfield.

HARD LUCK

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka was on the end of a Euro 2020 hiding last night as his Switzerland team lost 3-0 to Italy.

Manuel Locatelli scored either side of half-time before Ciro Immobile sealed the win on 89 minutes.

The defeat leaves the Swiss third in the group behind Wales who beat Turkey last night.

FULL FIXTURES

Here’s how Arsenal’s 2020-21 season will look…

IT’S ODE

Martin Odegaard will not join Arsenal on a permanent transfer this summer, according to reports.

The Gunners are intent on bringing in a new playmaker for the centre of midfield but a deal for the Norwegian looks far off.

Alternative targets are being ‘aggressively’ pursued after Odegaard made clear that he sees his future with Real Madrid, as reported by The Athletic.

New Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti is set to hold talks with the Norwegian to determine his role in the team.

The 22-year-old was signed during the Italian’s first spell at the club and has spent time on loan at Heerenveen, Vitesse, Real Sociedad and Arsenal.

A strong second half of the season at Emirates Stadium saw Odegaard play 20 times for the Gunners. And he believes he has done enough to earn a fresh shot with Real, where he has two years remaining on his contract.

MELON ME ‘EAD SON

England’s ootie stars have been twisting their melons to sink Scotland tomorrow — by working out with fruit-patterned under­water balls.

Players love kickabouts with “watermelon balls” at their training base. The soft, coloured globes can be kicked or thrown up to 10ft under water.

The team — managed by Gareth Southgate — had a splashing time at St George’s Park yesterday as the final countdown began to the Battle of Britain Euro 2020 showdown at Wembley.

Coaching staff at the camp in Burton-on-Trent, Staffs, introduced the bizarre balls in place of the unicorn pool inflatables which players loved at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

They allow the stars to enjoy fun games with minimal impact on tired joints and muscles. Tyrone Mings, 28, Phil Foden, 21, Kyle Walker, 31, and Jordan Pickford, 27, were snapped with their new toys.

FOR FIX SAKE

Arsenal will open next season away at Premier League new boys Brentford before two tough fixtures against Chelsea (h) and Manchester City (a).

The Gunners Prem run in sees them face Leeds (h), Newcastle (a) and Everton (h).

GOOD MORNING GUNNERS

Arsenal are believed to have stepped up their interest in Brighton’s Ben White, with reports suggesting they’ve had a £40million offer rejected for the England defender.

But the Gunners aren’t giving up their pursuit just yet and are expected to bid again shortly.

Yesterday was a busy day at the Emirates as the club reportedly turned down a £25m bid for Emile Smith Rowe from Aston Villa.

It’s understood the youngster will stay at the club and sign a new five-year deal.

Rumours suggest Arsenal are considering a move for Leicester star James Maddison as a replacement for Martin Odegaard.

It is believed the Norway international will stay at Real Madrid beyond the summer.

And the Gunners have been linked with Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who’s just replaced Dean Henderson in the England squad.

Finally, the Granit Xhaka transfer saga appears to have taken another twist, with reports claiming it will take £35m for Roma to prise him away from North London.

XHAKA AT THE EUROS: ITALY 3-0 SWITZERLAND

Italy enjoyed a comfortable victory over Granit Xhaka’s Switzerland at the Stadio Olimpico, which sealed qualification for Euro 2020’s Round of 16.

The Azzurri thought they opened the scoring when captain Giorgio Chiellini picked a corner-kick from Lorenzo Insigne in the air and fired it behind Yann Sommer’s goal after the ball bounced back to his feet.

However, VAR found that Chiellini’s arm hit the ball before he scored and things got worse for the Juventus star as he hobbled off the pitch with a muscle injury soon after.

However, Manuel Locatelli made it happen on 26 minutes when he found Domenico Berardi down the right flank with a wonderful ball from midfield.

Berardi delivered a wonderful low cross to the penalty area where Locatelli was after running the whole distance from midfield and beat Sommer with a wonderful finish.

The Sassuolo star completed a brace after 52 minutes and became Italy’s third youngest player to score two goals in a single game of a major tournament.

Ciro Immobile sealed his country’s big win with a long-range shot that Sommer couldn’t hold on to in the 89th minute

THROWBACK ALERT

Who remembers this classic interview with Arsene Wenger?

In the video, the ex-Arsenal boss struggles to keep the club’s move for Mesut Ozil a secret.

And what a signing the World Cup winner turned out to be, playing more than 250 games for the Gunners to become a cult hero.

XHAKA STARTS AGAINST ITALY

Granit Xhaka captains Switzerland this evening in their Euro 2020 match against Italy.

And the Arsenal midfielder has a fresh blonde trim!

The Swiss are under pressure after Wales defeated Turkey in the other Group A game earlier today.

JAMES MADDISON LATEST

Arsenal are reportedly eyeing up a shock move for Leicester playmaker James Maddison as a replacement for Martin Odegaard.

Mikel Arteta had been keen to permanently sign the Norway international, but it is understood he will be remaining at Real Madrid.

And the Gunners then lost out to Aston Villa in the race to prise Emiliano Buedia away from Norwich.

But according to reputable news source The AFC Bell, the North London giants have England midfielder Maddison in their sights.

They state that the 24-year-old has emerged as a key target and a move to the Emirates cannot be ruled out this transfer window.

And Football.London journalist Chris Wheatley has confirmed that the ex-Canaries ace is indeed being monitored by Arsenal.

He even suggested that Chelsea could join the race to sign him should Hakim Ziyech depart Stamford Bridge after just one year.

AARON RAMSDALE LATEST

Aaron Ramsdale is a shock target for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

The Sheffield United keeper, 23, was yesterday called up into the England 2020 squad as a replacement for injured Dean Henderson.

And Ramsdale is a surprise name on Arsenal’s summer wanted list.

However, the recently-relegated Blades want around £20million for their star stopper.

Emirates boss Arteta has a major goalkeeper issue with the future of Bernd Leno unclear as he could be returning to Germany.

Brighton’s Mat Ryan spent the second half of last season on loan in North London but looks unlikely to return to Arsenal.

ARSENAL WANT £35M FOR XHAKA – REPORTS

Arsenal are reportedly holding out for £35million for Granit Xhaka.

It’s around the same amount they paid for the player five years ago.

Will Roma meet the asking price?

GUENDOUZI EXIT ‘PROGRESSING’

Matteo Guendouzi is getting close to leaving Arsenal, according to Fabrizio Romano.

It’s believed the midfielder will join Ligue 1 side Marseille.

The 22-year-old spent last term on loan at Bundesliga team Hertha Berlin.