ARSENAL have reportedly made an enquiry to sign Barcelona forward Memphis Depay this summer.
The Dutchman could be the perfect replacement for Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette who are both set to leave the club in June.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta remains interested in luring French veteran Samuel Umtiti to the Emirates according to reports.
Umtiti was considered in a loan deal during the January transfer window, but Arsenal and Barcelona couldn’t come to an agreement.
And Gabriel Jesus could still be open to a move to North London despite the club set to miss out on Champions League football.
SUN BINGO GET £50 BONUS & 50 FREE SPINS TODAY
Keep up to date with all of the latest updates from the Emirates in our live blog…
Lokonga will come good
Lokonga will come good in the Premier League like Belgian counterparts Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.
The Belgian pair both took awhile to adapt to the Prem, but are now two of the league’s biggest stars.
And it will be the same for Lokonga, his brother claims.
He continued: “Other players like Kevin De Bruyne or Romelu Lukaku have also taken time to establish themselves in the English Premier League.
“The difference with the Belgian league is big, and Arsenal is not a mid-table club.”
Lokonga has no worries
Lokonga isn’t worried about his lack of playing time this season as he understands that there’s a number of talented stars in Arsenal’s midfield department.
That’s according to his brother, who added: “We would have signed with both hands for a first season with 33% of playing time. And Albert is improving every day, especially in training.
“But the competition is tough in the team, with boys like Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka or Mohamed Elneny, and the coach must respect a certain hierarchy.
“He has so much talent; sometimes it seems so easy for him that maybe the coach expects more from him?
“He shouldn’t rest on his abilities. And maybe he needs to show more in training. I’m not worried, and neither is he.”
Lokonga set for Arsenal stay
Albert Sambi Lokonga’s brother has ruled out a transfer move away from Arsenal for the midfielder.
Lokonga’s brother, Paul-José M’Poku, told RTBF: “It’s (a transfer) out of the question, at least for him.
“He is very well integrated into the club and the city, he is happy, although he hopes to play more next season, and his potential would deserve it.
“And there will be European games. I talked to him on the phone on Monday; he was disappointed because, with the defeat in Newcastle, the Champions League has moved away, but there will be the Europa League, and he is positive about his season.”
Harp done by
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Lee Harper’s debut shirt that was signed by the 1996-97 squad has been stolen from his home.
Harper’s one and only competitive outing for Arsenal came in a 2-0 win away at Southampton in March 1997.
But sadly, Harper’s Arsenal jersey from that afternoon was stolen from his home at the weekend.
The 50-year-old tweeted: “My debut #Afc shirt that was signed by whole squad in 1997 was stolen from my home at the weekend please retweet @IanWright0 @RealRomfordPele @thedavidseaman please @ArsenalFC.”
In the tweet, Harper begged his former team-mates to help publicise the robbery in a desperate bid that it could be returned.
Arsenal transfer plans ‘in tatters’
Arsenal’s summer transfer plans lie in tatters, according to TeamTALK, after Monday’s defeat at Newcastle left them highly unlikely to qualify for the Champions League.
The Gunners will miss out on a top-four spot unless North London rivals Tottenham lose at bottom-of-the-table and already relegated Norwich on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu had identified a number of transfer targets, but now risk losing them without the prospect of Europe’s elite competition.
Those include Paulo Dybala, who had been tipped to move to the Emirates from Juventus, but now appears destined to stay in Italy with a switch to Roma or Inter.
Darwin Nunez and Victor Osimhen will also supposedly reject a move to the Premier League unless Champions League football is also on the agenda.
Arsenal ‘make enquiry’ for Depay
Arsenal have contacted Barcelona regarding a summer swoop for Memphis Depay.
The Gunners are in the market for at least one forward, and ABC believe they are now contemplating making the Dutchman their first choice.
Depay only arrived at the Nou Camp last year, and made an electric start to life in LaLiga with eight goals in his first 14 appearances.
However, he has found himself increasingly on the bench since Xavi took charge of the Catalans, and is likely to be one of the players moved on in the next window as Barca look to raise funds.
It remains to be seen whether Depay would be willing to move to a club that are unable to provide Champions League football.
Nketiah not up to Liverpool standard
Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has been linked with a surprise move to Liverpool – but one former Anfield ace believes his old club would be making a mistake.
The 22-year-old is out of contract this summer and had been expected to move away from the Emirates prior to his recent run of starts.
However, Steve McManaman feels the forward would be better off remaining in North London if Mikel Arteta can guarantee him similar playing time next term.
Speaking to HorseRacing.net, McManaman said: “I don’t think he’s good enough for Liverpool to be honest.
“I like Eddie Nketiah but he’s not going to dismantle any of that Liverpool front five and the club has an academy full of centre forwards, so I can’t see this move happening.
“Mikel Arteta has selected him a lot recently, but it wasn’t too long ago that he didn’t seem interested in him.
“He just has to work hard and keep improving. [Alexandre] Lacazette may leave on a free transfer this summer, so there could be space for him to continue with Arsenal, but he needs to see whether his manager is planning on bringing in two or three forwards.
“If he’s happy there though and he’s playing there then he should stay at Arsenal.”
Gunners set for Mav windfall
Arsenal are set to make a small profit from on-loan defender Konstantinos Mavropanos after Stuttgart avoided relegation in the Bundesliga.
The Germans had an obligation to buy the 24-year-old if they stayed in the top-flight, which they did courtesy of a dramatic stoppage time winner on Saturday.
Mavropanos has spent the last two years with Stuttgart on a loan deal, making 54 appearances for the club.
And while there was an obligation to buy the defender if they stayed up, The Athletic claim Stuttgart had told Arsenal they wished to sign him regardless of whether they survived the drop.
The Gunners will receive £3million for the centre-back, plus another £1.5m in bonuses.
It means Arsenal will earn just under £3m in profit on a player they signed for £1.8m in January 2018 from Greek side PAS Giannina.
Arteta in for Barca’s Umtiti
Mikel Arteta remains interested in bringing Samuel Umtiti to Arsenal after it emerged that Barcelona were willing to sell the defender.
The Daily Star reports that the Arsenal boss is considering a swoop for the 28-year-old this summer despite missing out on a loan move for the player back in January.
The French international is supposedly surplus to requirements at the Nou Camp, and has now been told he can leave the LaLiga giants.
The news comes in the same week that Gunners centre-back Gabriel was linked with a transfer to Juventus.
Should the Brazilian exit the Emirates, Arteta may well decide to replace him with the experienced Umtiti.
However, many Arsenal supporters are hoping to see William Saliba in the first team next season after the 21-year-old’s successful season on loan at Marseille.
Good morning Arsenal fans
Gary Neville has branded Granit Xhaka a “disgrace” after the Arsenal star blamed teammates for their defeat at Newcastle.
Neville said: “I think I heard him say, ‘Stay at home if you haven’t got the balls’. So he’s obviously having a go at people in his dressing room.
“I don’t know who he’s having a go at, I hope he wasn’t having a go at the younger players…him?
“I tell you what he’s been a disgrace at times over the last four or five years, getting sent off recklessly. He’s left it up in the air there, that was nothing there.”
Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus’ agents are in “no hurry” to sort the player’s future after Arsenal’s Monday night collapse.
SunSport understands Jesus’ agents are not going to rush into a decision and are keen for their player to end on a high with Man City before deciding on his next move.
It has also been made clear to SunSport by Jesus’ team that although the Champions League is a major attraction, they have not completely ruled out a move to the Emirates.
Elsewhere, Arsenal are keen on a £21million deal for Bologna defender Aaron Hickey.
But they face competition from Newcastle and Napoli.
However, the Mail claims Brentford are leading the race for the Scot, who wants regular minutes should he make a move.
Finally, Mikel Arteta will have the support of Arsenal’s board irrespective of how Arsenal’s season finishes.
The Gunners’ Champions League hopes hang by a thread after they lost to Newcastle.
But Arteta will be handed a huge cheque to spend even if the Gunners don’t qualify for the elite European competition, according to The Telegraph.
Arteta’s war chest
Mikel Arteta will have the support of Arsenal’s board irrespective of how Arsenal’s season finishes.
The Gunners’ Champions League hopes hang by a thread after they lost to Newcastle.
But Arteta will be handed a huge cheque to spend even if the Gunners don’t qualify for the elite European competition, according to The Telegraph.
Merson’s verdict on Iwobi
Paul Merson isn’t impressed by Arsenal ace Alex Iwobi.
Merson told Sky Sports: “I’m not his biggest fan, if I am being honest. I think he flatters to deceive.
“But I think he has turned up. He has done well and worked from a base. And his work for the team.
“What he does well is he takes the team up the pitch. When you are in a team that aren’t great, Iwobi will get you up the pitch.
“He should get more goals. And he should get more assists.”
Champions League hopes over
Arsenal won’t be in the Champions League next season as Spurs will take the final European spot, according to Jamie Carragher.
He said: “Spurs aren’t losing from that position, they’ll know right now, the players sat on the pitch, the scenes, the fans in the away end, there isn’t anybody in world football who believes Arsenal will have Champions League football next season.
“Absolutely no chance.”
Player of the Year list thoughts
Rio Ferdinand thinks Cristiano Ronaldo should be on the Player of the Year list ahead of Bukayo Saka.
Speaking on the list. Ferdinand fumed: “Saka’s in the Player of the Year nominees?.
“I wouldn’t have had Saka in there yet, as well as he’s done.
“I wouldn’t have had him over Ronaldo, no, not this season. Ronaldo should be in ahead of three of four of those guys in there.
“‘He probably doesn’t win it but in terms of nominees, it’s laughable. He’ll take it as a disrespect but these are the things that fuel him, he’ll be thinking, ‘how dare you?'”
Arsenal set for small windfall
Arsenal are set to make a small profit from on-loan defender Konstantinos Mavropanos after Stuttgart avoided relegation in the Bundesliga.
The Germans had an obligation to buy the 24-year-old if they stayed in the top-flight, which they did courtesy of a 92nd minute winner on Saturday.
Mavropanos has spent the last two-years with Stuttgart on a loan deal, making 54 appearances for the club.
And while there was an obligation to buy the defender if they stayed up, The Athletic claim Stuttgart had told Arsenal they wished to sign him regardless of whether they survived the drop.
The Gunners will receive £3million for the centre-back, plus another £1.5m in bonuses.
It means Arsenal will earn just under £3m in profit on a player they signed for £1.8m in January 2018 from Greek side PAS Giannina.
Shearer goads Ian Wright
Alan Shearer couldn’t resist goading Ian Wright after Arsenal lost to Newcastle.
After the game, the Toon legend said to Wright: “Do you want a hug? Do you want a hug? Do you want a cuddle?”
Wright didn’t seem to be amused and replied: “No. Why are you being so…”
But before Wright could finish, Shearer interjected: ‘I’m not. I love you really.”
Spurs keeper on Arsenal loss
Tottenham star Hugo Lloris revealed that Spurs were watching Arsenal’s loss to Newcastle intently.
But he claimed the result wouldn’t affect the LilyWhites’ preparation for their final game of the season against Norwich.
Lloris said before the Arsenal game yesterday: “We’re going to have a look on Monday night, obviously, but that won’t change the way we’re going to prepare for our game at Norwich.
“We must be ready to take an opportunity. That was the message today.”
Shearer on Arsenal’s gameplan
Alan Shearer was miffed by Arsenal’s gameplan against Newcastle that resulted in a 2-0 loss for the Gunners.
He said to Premier League Productions: “I think what surprised me with the Arsenal team was on the back of such a poor performance against Tottenham, and what you want and need is a game straight away to say okay we need to get that one out of our system.
“Now we all knew what the atmosphere was going to be like at St. James Park tonight.
“So those players should have known and Mikel Arteta will have known, so I was really surprised to see that it almost caught them by surprise.”
Gabriel Jesus transfer latest
Gabriel Jesus agents are in “no hurry” to sort the player’s future after Arsenal’s Monday night collapse.
Arsenal were seen as favourites to snap up the 25-year-old – who only has one year left on his current deal – having already initiated positive talks for a £40m-£50m move.
But SunSport understands Jesus’ agents are not going to rush into a decision and are keen for their player to end on a high with City before deciding on his next move.
Jesus’ agents have already admitted to being fans of the project Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has built, as well as suggesting the Premier League is the “NBA of football”.
Trippier has cheeky Arsenal pop
Ex-Spurs star Kieran Trippier had a cheeky pop at Arsenal after they slipped in the race for a top-four Prem finish.
The right-back posted an Instagram message to Tottenham fans after his current side Newcastle beat the Gunners on Monday.
Trippier was an unused sub but that did not stop him enjoying the result with fans at Tottenham, where he played between 2015-2019.
The England star, 31, posted an image of himself on the touchline, and added a message which said: “Excellent by the lads tonight, once again showing what we are capable of at Newcastle.
“I hope you enjoyed that one tonight Spurs fans 😂.”
Newcastle fans taunt Arsenal
Newcastle taunted Arsenal as their team delivered a near-fatal blow to the Gunners’ Champions League hopes.
As their side dominated the Gunners, fans chanted: “Champions League, you’re having a laugh.”
They repeated the taunt over and over again.
United fans beg for Nkunku
Man United fans have begged the Red Devils to sign RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku after he was named Bundesliga’s Player of the Season.
Nkunku’s impact has wowed United’s faithful who flocked to Twitter to voice their desire for him to be in a Red Devils shirt next season.
One fan reckoned Nkunku’s switch to United is a foregone conclusion and wrote: “United player soon.”
United have had an indifferent season and currently languish in sixth spot in the Premier League with just one game left to play.
And one supporter who believes Nkunku will provide a solution to the club’s problems next season, added: “@ManUtd here is our man.”
While a third Red Devils loyalist chipped in: “Think he’d be perfect for us.”
Arsenal have also been linked with the midfield star.
Arsenal face Hickey transfer competition
Arsenal are keen on a £21million deal for Bologna defender Aaron Hickey.
But they face competition from Newcastle and Napoli.
However, the Mail claims Brentford are leading the race for the Scot, who wants regular minutes should he make a move.
Jesus taking time over move
Gabriel Jesus’ agents are in “no hurry” to sort the player’s future after Arsenal’s Monday night collapse.
SunSport understands Jesus’ agents are not going to rush into a decision and are keen for their player to end on a high with Man City before deciding on his next move.
It has also been made clear to SunSport by Jesus’ team that although the Champions League is a major attraction, they have not completely ruled out a move to the Emirates.
Van Persie Jr signs deal
Robin van Persie’s son Shaqueel could follow the striker’s footsteps to Arsenal or Manchester United – after signing a first contract with Feyenoord.
Shaqueel said: “I’ve been at Feyenoord since I was ten, so this is a special day. The club is like a second home for me.
“The fans and the stadium are great. My dream is to eventually play at De Kuip, and to be a success.”
Feyenoord academy head Rini Coolen added: “We as a club are very pleased with Shaqueel’s development.
“He is strong with an outstanding winner’s mentality, scores goals for fun and shows his leadership qualities. Signing his first professional contract is a fitting reward for him.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
