NICOLAS PEPE has thrown doubt on his Arsenal future after hinting at a summer exit.
The £72m Gunners star also revealed he has struggled to communicate with boss Mikel Arteta because of the “language barrier.
Elsewhere at the Emirates, Gunners chiefs are plotting a shock summer transfer swoop for Marcus Rashford, according to reports.
The Manchester United forward is enduring a rough time at Old Trafford this season.
Arsenal are also confident of tying Bukayo Saka down to a new contract before the end of the season.
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Maitland-Niles set for return
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is set to return to Arsenal when his loan spell at Roma ends, according to the Mirror.
The versatile midfielder, 24, made a temporary switch to the Serie A club in January but has had limited game time.
It remains to be seen whether Gunners boss Mikel Arteta sees a future for the five-cap England star, but he is likely to attract interest from other Prem clubs in any event.
Xhaka’s dad reveals prison ordeal
Granit Xhaka’s dad has opened up about how he was arrested and tortured as a 23-year-old in Yugoslavia in the 1980s.
The Arsenal star’s father Ragip told Blick he was jailed for rebelling against the state.
On the dreadful conditions, he explained: “[It was] almost four by two meters including a free-standing toilet for all five. We were there 23 hours and 50 minutes a day.
“We had ten minutes of outdoor exercise, but because of prison rules we weren’t even allowed to look at the sky.”
Milan ‘prepared to sell Martinez’
Inter Milan would be prepared to sell Arsenal-target Lautaro Martinez for about 70 million euros, according to Calciomercato.
The report says the Italian giants do not consider the 24-year-old Argentina striker ‘non-transferable’.
Arsenal fifth favourites for Raphinha
Arsenal are joint fifth favourites to sign Leeds superstar Raphinha, according to the bookies.
Sky Bet have the Gunners priced at 7/4 to beat a host of other top European clubs to the signature of the Brazilian if he leaves Elland Road.
The frontrunners are Spanish giants Barcelona at 7/4, followed by German powerhouses Bayern Munich at 7/1.
‘Frustrated’ Pepe could leave Arsenal
Arsenal’s £72million record signing Nicholas Pepe has thrown doubt on his future at the club by hinting he might be off.
The Ivorian winger, 26, has had just five Prem starts this season and has fallen down the Gunners’ pecking order.
Speaking ahead of Ivory Coast’s friendly with England at Wembley on Tuesday night, he said: “I am focused on how well we do until the end of the season and the club’s target, which is getting into the Champions League. Then we will see what happens.”
Gunners get update on Asensio
Arsenal and Liverpool target Marco Asensio is reportedly weighing up his future at Real Madrid.
Sport report the 26-year-old Spanish winger has been told by Bernabeu chiefs to sign a new bumper deal by the end of June or he will be sold.
The Gunners reportedly saw a £34million bid for Asensio rejected in the summer, and the Reds were linked with him in October.
Arsenal target Rashford ‘not clinical’
Former Chelsea striker and now football pundit Tony Cascarino says Marcus Rashford is ‘not clinical’ enough to lead the line for Arsenal.
United forward Rashford is reportedly a transfer target for Mikel Arteta’s Champions League-chasing Gunners.
Cascarino told talkSPORT: “I’m not sure if Marcus is a solution for Arsenal because Marcus is not clinical.
“He doesn’t particularly lead the line well and that’s one of the two traits you need if you’re going to play in an Arteta team.”
Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Manchester United ace Marcus Rashford
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
