ARSENAL successfully convincing Eddie Nketiah to sign a new deal might have altered Mikel Arteta’s transfer plans of signing two new strikers.
However, reports suggest that Gabriel Jesus remains a top target for the Gunners boss, and their interest has not changed despite the development in Nketiah’s contractual situation.
Which could result in a double Manchester City swoop as Arteta is eyeing up a deal for Oleksandr Zinchenko according to reports.
And talented wonderkid Marquinhos is facing a legal battle over his imminent move to North London in the transfer window.
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Gunners and Barca vie for Villa whizkid Carney
Arsenal and Barcelona are reportedly keen on Aston Villa midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, 18.
The England Under-19 star helped Villa win the 2020-21 FA Youth Cup and played 11 Premier League games this season.
Spanish outlet SPORT say Nou Camp sporting advisor Jordi Cruyff and director of football Mateu Alemany discussed a move with Chukwuemeka’s representatives this week.
And Arsenal are thought to be long-term admirers of the whizkid, who has 13 months remaining on his Villa deal.
PSG in for Pepe
Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly eyeing up a shock swoop for Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe as an alternative to Ousmane Dembele.
The 26-year-old is believed to be facing an uncertain future in North London having failed to prove his worth since his club-record £72million arrival in 2019.
Former Lille winger Pepe is claimed to have been deemed as surplus to requirements having fallen down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta.
Pepe was limited to just 20 Premier League appearances, with the player named in the starting XI just five times – the last of which came on October 18 in the 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.
And with two years left to run on his contract, it has been reported that Arsenal are ready to listen to offers.
According to Foot Mercato, PSG could be willing to take a gamble on the forward.
Eddie tipped to snub Palace
In-demand striker Eddie Nketiah is tipped to U-turn and agree a new Arsenal contract.
The 22-year-old has been linked with Newcastle and especially Crystal Palace but revived his Gunners’ status with five goals in his last seven games.
And the Athletic are amongst the outlets who say the ex-England Under-21 star now believes he has a future under Emirates chief Mikel Arteta.
Who’s Gunning a move?
Arsenal are set for a busy summer transfer window as they prepare for the demands of European football next season.
Betfair have revealed the four most likely players to arrive at the Emirates Stadium with Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus the current favourite.
Mikel Arteta will be in the market for new players in a number of positions, with improving their squad depth being the main focus point due to a much busier fixture list for next season.
For much of the run-in towards the end of the Premier League season it looked as though Arsenal would be preparing to welcome Champions League football for the first time in six years.
Two losses in their final three games, to Tottenham and Newcastle, meant a four point cushion over their North London rivals vanished, with the Gunners finishing fifth, two points shy of Spurs.
Arsenal’s eighth-place finish in 2021 meant that the Gunners had no European football to deal with this season, so the requirement of having to play twice a week for most weeks next season will encourage the need for a deeper, stronger squad.
Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus is the name most heavily linked with Arsenal at the moment.
Arsenal are in need of a striker with the departure of Alexandre Lacazette looking likely, and the contract saga of Eddie Nketiah still looking uncertain.
BETFAIR ODDS
- Gabriel Jesus 4/9
- Youri Tielemans 10/11
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin 3/1
- James Maddison 4/1
Gunners ‘lose patience’ with Pepe
Arsenal look set to call time on record signing Nicolas Pepe’s spell at the club.
The Ivorian has been a model of inconsistency since arriving at the Emirates from Lille for £72m three years ago.
Now Foot Mercato report that the Gunners hierarchy have finally lost patience with the winger, and are willing to cut their losses.
The 26-year-old has already been offered to a number of clubs including Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG’s new sporting director Luis Campos was the man responsible for originally bringing Pepe to Lille, and is said to be considering a deal.
Arsenal interested in Blues’ Levi
There will be many interested observers when Huddersfield take on Nottingham Forest at Wembley in Sunday’s Championship play-off final – and not just because it’s supposedly ‘the richest game in football’.
Instead, a flock of Premier League clubs will have representatives in attendance to the run the rule over Levi Colwill.
The 19-year-old centre-back has earned rave reviews on loan at the Terriers from Chelsea this season, and is now the focus of a transfer frenzy that includes his parent club.
Thomas Tuchel has stated that he is keen to see the teenager in action, but Goal report that Arsenal and Leicester are interested in persuading the defender to depart Stamford Bridge.
Ambitious Arsenal in for Zin
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal are already preparing for the new campaign despite the disappointment of missing out on Champions League football.
And the Spaniard is ready to raid his former club Manchester City for two stars in order to ensure there are no such setbacks next season.
His interest in striker Gabriel Jesus has been well documented, but The Mail now believe he also wants Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The Ukrainian has been identified as a player to not only boost the Gunners’ midfield, but to competently fill in at left-back when Kieran Tierney is injured.
Gunners battle to keep Saliba
Arsenal face an anxious summer as they prepare to convince wonderkid William Saliba that his long-term future lies with them.
Manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu have already indicated that they intend to integrate the young centre-back within the first team next season in order to warn off Marseille.
The 21-year-old French international has impressed on loan at the Ligue 1 club this campaign, and their president Pablo Longoria has spoken publicly about his desire to make the move permanent.
However, the Gunners are now fending off interest from elsewhere with big-spending Newcastle understood to be keen on Saliba.
French journalist Fabrice Hawkins reports that the Toon Army as well as Napoli and Atletico Madrid are all considering making bids for the defender.
Morning, Arsenal fans
Marquinhos’ move to the Emirates has hit a shock stumbling block.
And Udinese defender Nahuel Molina is the new man on the Gunners’ radar.
It’s claimed Wolves already have a pre-contract agreement with Sao Paulo winger Marquinhos.
So Arsenal could face a tough legal battle to tie up what had seemed a straightforward £3million deal for the Brazilian, 19.
But the Gunners are rated amongst the frontrunners to sign Argentina star Molina.
Reports in Spain even suggest Arsenal are preparing an ‘important bid’ for the 24-year-old.
Udinese’s third-top Serie A scorer notched seven goals and five assists, mainly from the right of a three-man defence.
Atletico Madrid and Juventus are also keen on Molina.
The Gunners are also said to be jostling for Lens midfielder Cheick Doucoure.
Meanwhile, Arsenal as well as Barcelona are reportedly keen on Aston Villa midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, 18.
Finally, Crystal Palace target Eddie Nketiah is tipped to U-turn and agree a new Gunners’ contract.
The 22-year-old bagged five goals in his last seven games.
Eddie tipped to snub Palace
In-demand striker Eddie Nketiah is tipped to U-turn and agree a new Arsenal contract.
The 22-year-old has been linked with Newcastle and especially Crystal Palace but revived his Gunners’ status with five goals in his last seven games.
And the Athletic are amongst the outlets who say the ex-England Under-21 star now believes he has a future under Emirates chief Mikel Arteta.
Gunners rocked by Marquinhos ‘Wolves deal’
Arsenal could face a legal battle with Wolves to sign Sao Paulo winger Marquinhos.
The Gunners were thought to have all but tied up a £3million deal for the Brazilian, 19.
But it’s claimed he’s already inked a pre-contract agreement with Wolves.
That could mean a huge battle to sort out where he ends up this summer.
Blow for Prem giants as Dembele is set for PSG
Chelsea have been dealt a transfer blow as Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele could join Paris Saint-Germain, reports suggest.
AS say Dembele – previously linked to Manchester United and Arsenal -has rejected a new Barca contract offer to leave on a free transfer next month.
The forward has been linked with the Blues, who are looking to add some firepower up front after Todd Boehly’s takeover is officially completed.
However, the 25-year-old looks set to return to France for PSG ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Blaugrana tried to sell Dembele in January to avoid losing their second most expensive signing of all time for free at the end of the season.
But the Frenchman stayed put and played an important role in the team’s dramatic improvement, which saw them finish second in LaLiga.
The Catalan giants were hoping to convince the striker to stay by signing his friend Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal.
Barcelona manager Xavi also sang his praises continuously and expressed his desire to keep him. However, Dembele, who joined Barca from Borussia Dortmund for a whopping £138million in 2017, will be leaving next month.
Gunners and Barca vie for Villa whizkid Carney
Arsenal and Barcelona are reportedly keen on Aston Villa midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, 18.
The England Under-19 star helped Villa win the 2020-21 FA Youth Cup and played 11 Premier League games this season.
Spanish outlet SPORT say Nou Camp sporting advisor Jordi Cruyff and director of football Mateu Alemany discussed a move with Chukwuemeka’s representatives this week.
And Arsenal are thought to be long-term admirers of the whizkid, who has 13 months remaining on his Villa deal.
Could Tam be the right man?
Roman’s Europa Conference-winning hero Tammy Abraham could land a huge bid from Arsenal.
It’s thought the England and ex-Chelsea striker striker, 27, would be interested in returning to London.
But Abraham has bloomed so much in Italy under ex-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho that he could cost around £50million.
Chelsea boost as Barca’s Aurelien deal stalls
Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool might feel re-energised in the hunt for Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni after his move to Real Madrid reportedly stalled.
It’s claimed the France midfielder’s Bernabeu talks have been hit by ‘tax issues’.
Tchouameni’s transfer fee has also been a problem, according to 90min.
PSG, including Kylian Mbappe, are also said to be strong admirers of the eight-cap star.
But Real remain favourites to sign him.
Gunners linked to Molina
Arsenal have bid for Udinese’s Nahuel Molina, according to Spanish outlet Marca.
The Argentina star was his club’s third-top seven Serie A scorer this season with seven goals, mostly playing on the right of a three-man defence.
Marca say Atletico Madrid and Juventus are also keen on the 24-year-old, who supplied five top-flight assists
Credit: Rex Nketiah ‘U-turn’ as he’s tipped to stay
In-demand striker Eddie Nketiah is tipped to U-turn and agree a new Arsenal contract.
The 22-year-old has been linked with Newcastle and especially Crystal Palace but revived his Gunners’ status with five goals in his last seven games.
And the Athletic are amongst the outlets who say the ex-England Under-21 star now believes he has a future under Emirates chief Mikel Arteta.
Gunners want Partey back
Arsenal have reportedly contacted the Ghana Football Association to request that Thomas Partey is omitted from his country’s national squad ahead of the African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and the Central Africa Republic.
The 28-year-old, who missed the Gunners’ last nine games of the season with a hamstring injury, was expected to be called up by head coach Otto Addo.
However, the Premier League club are still monitoring the player’s return to fitness, and have asked for him to be left out as a precaution.
Ceballos ’20 minutes from career-ending injury’
Ex-Arsenal midfielder Dani Ceballos was just TWENTY MINUTES away from a career-ending injury following a misdiagnosis from doctors last summer.
Ceballos, 25, suffered a gruesome ankle injury in Spain’s opening game against Egypt at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
But after sitting out for a few weeks, Ceballos thought it was OK to return to action after doctors told him he had only damaged his ligament.
The Real Madrid playmaker attempted to play in the Olympics final that Spain lost to Brazil.
And it could’ve been the last time Ceballos kicked a ball professionally if he continued playing for another 20 minutes.
But when he returned to Madrid, doctors told Ceballos it was his talus – which supports body weight, that was impaired.
Ceballos told Marca: “It has been the worst five months of my life. My ankle did not respond to me. I tried to play the final with a bad medical report where they told me that I had an injury of 2-3 weeks where only the ligament was affected.
“Well, no. When I arrived in Madrid it turned out that I had a fracture of the talus, a bone that supports a great deal of body weight.
“The doctors told me that if I had played 20 more minutes after the two infiltrations, I would no longer be able to play football.”
U-21s not backseat for Rowe
Lee Carsley says Emile Smith Rowe should not see his inclusion back in the England U21 squad as a “demotion”.
And the Young Lions chief fully expects Arsenal star Smith Rowe to be on top of his game, despite having been in the senior set-up last time out.
Smith Rowe came off the bench in England’s 3-0 win over Ivory Coast in March, and now has three senior caps and a goal to his name.
But Gareth Southgate overlooked him for his latest squad, leaving Carsley to select him for the four Euro qualifiers the U21s play in June.
But Carsley said: “We don’t want them to see it as a demotion. Ultimately your club form takes care of that.
“Our job is to maybe let them kick-start themselves again or maybe come into form and score some goals.
“It’s such a high standard in the seniors that it’s almost a conveyor belt where you need to perform weekly in, week out.
“The way Gareth communicates to the players when they go up always leaves that opportunity to come back across and play with us.”
Who’s Gunning a move?
Arsenal are set for a busy summer transfer window as they prepare for the demands of European football next season.
Betfair have revealed the four most likely players to arrive at the Emirates Stadium with Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus the current favourite.
Mikel Arteta will be in the market for new players in a number of positions, with improving their squad depth being the main focus point due to a much busier fixture list for next season.
For much of the run-in towards the end of the Premier League season it looked as though Arsenal would be preparing to welcome Champions League football for the first time in six years.
Two losses in their final three games, to Tottenham and Newcastle, meant a four point cushion over their North London rivals vanished, with the Gunners finishing fifth, two points shy of Spurs.
Arsenal’s eighth-place finish in 2021 meant that the Gunners had no European football to deal with this season, so the requirement of having to play twice a week for most weeks next season will encourage the need for a deeper, stronger squad.
Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus is the name most heavily linked with Arsenal at the moment.
Arsenal are in need of a striker with the departure of Alexandre Lacazette looking likely, and the contract saga of Eddie Nketiah still looking uncertain.
BETFAIR ODDS
- Gabriel Jesus 4/9
- Youri Tielemans 10/11
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin 3/1
- James Maddison 4/1
Blow for Prem giants as Dembele is set for PSG
Chelsea have been dealt a transfer blow as Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele could join Paris Saint-Germain, reports suggest.
AS say Dembele – previously linked to Manchester United and Arsenal -has rejected a new Barca contract offer to leave on a free transfer next month.
The forward has been linked with the Blues, who are looking to add some firepower up front after Todd Boehly’s takeover is officially completed.
However, the 25-year-old looks set to return to France for PSG ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Blaugrana tried to sell Dembele in January to avoid losing their second most expensive signing of all time for free at the end of the season.
But the Frenchman stayed put and played an important role in the team’s dramatic improvement, which saw them finish second in LaLiga.
The Catalan giants were hoping to convince the striker to stay by signing his friend Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal.
Barcelona manager Xavi also sang his praises continuously and expressed his desire to keep him. However, Dembele, who joined Barca from Borussia Dortmund for a whopping £138million in 2017, will be leaving next month.
Gunners put Doucoure under the Lens
Arsenal are rated one of Lens midfielder Cheick Doucoure’s main Prem admirers.
The Gunners are planning a huge summer revamp this summer after missing out on Champions League football.
There are reportedly twelve names that Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has on his wishlist including Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus.
And the Mirror claim one player the Gunners are tracking is Doucoure who’s set to leave Lens for the Prem in the transfer window.
The 22-year-old’s been in stellar form for Lens this season, providing four assists and one goal across 34 Ligue 1 appearances.
And the Mali international now wants to try his hand in England where he’s not short on interest.
My Wil is not to return
Arsenal loanee William Saliba has yet again reiterated his desire to stay at Marseille after helping the club secure Champions League football.
Quoted by GFFN after Marseille’s 4-0 win against Strasbourg, Saliba said: “I want to come back and play the Champions’ League.
“I have never played in it and I want to discover it here.”
Speaking earlier this month, the defender labelled L’OM as “my club” as declared it would be his “pleasure” to stay.
Gunners Schick as a parrot
Arsenal have been dealt another transfer blow by the news that long-term target Patrick Schick has penned a new deal with Bayer Leverkusen.
The Czech has been a constant contender during Mikel Arteta’s search for a striker, and had been considered a realistic option this summer after the Gunners missed out on the Champions League.
However, the 26-year-old has now committed his future to the Bundesliga outfit after signing a new five-year contract.
Schick netted an impressive 24 goals in just 27 league appearances for Die Werkself last term.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
