ARSENAL are reportedly keen on splurging on Riyad Mahrez, Emi Buendia and Dwight McNeil this summer.
Reports also suggest that the Gunners could land long-term target Houssem Aouar for just £25m after Lyon missed out on the Champions League.
Meanwhile the Gunners will have to wait until after the Copa America to have a shout at signing Philippe Coutinho, according to reports.
We’ve also the very latest on Martin Odegaard, as well as an update on Alexandre Lacazette’s Emirates future.
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GUNNER SPEND BIG
Financial analyst Kieran Maguire says Arsenal have money to spend on players this summer.
The Gunners have faced fan protests in recent weeks with fans demanding more investment in the playing squad from the club’s owners.
Arsenal borrowed some money from Barclays Bank to cover for the Covid Corporate Financing Facility loan they got last year, which covered losses brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.
Maguire says there were restrictions on what they could use the CCFF for, but the new loan doesn’t have one and that means they have as much as £120million to spend on player recruitments.
He told Football Insider: “In terms of the Barclays loan, it’s Arsenal’s money to play with.
“The Barclays relationship gives Arsenal a greater degree of flexibility. That could be beneficial for the club because you don’t have to ringfence it in terms of day-to-day operational costs.
“The Kroenke family have got an awful lot of work to do to convince the Arsenal fans of their intentions. This new loan could be used for recruitment and retention issues.”
CROWN JUL
Sevilla’s French prospect Jules Kounde admits he might have to ‘change clubs’ to realise his potential in a major boost for Prem clubs.
The 22-year-old defender has been trailed by Arsenal, as well as Manchester United and Chelsea.
He helped Sevilla win the Europa League after moving from Bordeaux in 2019 and his LaLiga form hasn’t gone unnoticed among the Premier League giants.
Kounde received his first France call-up for this summer’s Euros, and he was grilled by reporters at the team’s Clairefontaine training camp about his future.
He said: “Regarding my future, it’s certain that I will perhaps have to change clubs this summer.
“But nothing has been finalised yet. I have not decided anything.
“My goal is to play for a big club, to try to always progress and to win trophies.”
NO. 1 TARGET
Martin Odegaard is at the top of Arsenal’s shopping list this summer after his loan spell recently came to an end.
The Real Madrid star made a big impression at The Emirates thanks to a number of impressive performances as well as his character and leadership credentials.
Arsenal may find there is an obstacle to bringing him in however, as the resignation of Zinedine Zidane from his post at Real Madrid complicates matters.
Odegaard has a contract with Madrid until 2023, and an incoming manager may view him as a more important member of the squad than Zidane did.
Consequently, Arsenal have been forced to explore alternatives, most notably Norwich’s Emi Buendia.
PRICE OF GRANIT RISING
Arsenal have reportedly named their price for defensive-minded midfielder Granit Xhaka amid interest from Roma.
Former Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho will take charge of Roma from the start of next season and has already begun plotting his new squad.
According to Gazzetta Dello Sport, Roma recently made an initial £11m bid for the Switzerland international.
But that was rejected by the Gunners, who told the Serie A side they will need to up it to £17m to begin any discussions.
The report suggests that it is possible Roma could include Amadou Diawara in an exchange deal, with the Guinea midfielder linked to Arsenal in the past.
OPEN FOR BIS-NESS
Brighton owner Tony Bloom admitted the club’s best players ‘are not going to be with us forever’ in a huge boost to Arsenal in their pursuit of Yves Bissouma.
SunSport revealed earlier this month the Gunners have been told to cough up £40m for the Mali international.
The midfielder has become one of the hottest properties in the Premier League after his displays this season.
And Bloom does not expect to hold on to him forever.
He told The Athletic: “The more big clubs there are interested in our players, the more we’re doing right, so I’m delighted with that.
“We know some of our best players are not going to be with us forever.
“If the right offer comes along — and it has to be the right offer — and they want to go, then they will leave.”
GUEN TO GO?
Arsenal have rejected an approach from Marseille for midfielder Matteo Guendouzi.
Marseille want Guendouzi on loan, but the Gunners immediately rejected that as he has 12 months on his deal and no extension in the works.
Marseille then returned looking for a permanent deal at around £6.8m, but Arsenal want more than double that.
Negotiations are still taking place and one part of the deal seems to have been agreed, as the Marseille board have largely convinced Guendouzi to make the move.
EDDING OUT?
Watford are interested in signing Eddie Nketiah this summer.
Nketiah enjoyed more first-team opportunities at The Emirates after Mikel Arteta first arrived but he has fallen down the pecking order in recent weeks.
The England under-21 star is entering the final year of his contract and the Gunners are open to selling him this summer, rather than waiting for him to leave on a free next year.
Arsenal are believed to want more than £15m for the striker if are to let him leave.
His contractual status has opened the door for potential suitors, with the Hornets among them.
NO RAYA LIGHT
Brentford goalkeeper David Raya is a long-term target for Arsenal according to The Athletic.
The Gunners made multiple attempts to sign the Spanish goalkeeper last summer, and were willing to spend £10million to sign him.
But Raya signed a new contract with Brentford, which contained a minimum fee release clause.
However, that clause has now been invalidated due to Brentford’s promotion to the Premier League.
PRICE IS DWIGHT
Aston Villa want to sign Burnley star Dwight McNeil and Norwich’s Arsenal target Emi Buendia, according to The Athletic.
Buendia is a key target with the playmaker attracting plenty of interest.
His form, which helped the Canaries win the Championship title, has led to interest from Arsenal and Villa.
The Argentina ace scored 15 goals and provided 17 assists during a superb campaign for the promotion winners.
Villa face major competition from Arsenal for Buendia but their interest is a statement of intent for their ambition next season.
The club are still intent on holding on to England star Jack Grealish and are looking to strengthen their current squad, rather than replace players.
HAK THAT
Arsenal have been dealt another transfer blow as Inter Milan right-back Achraf Hakimi looks set to join PSG.
The Parisians are believed to not be completely sold on loanee Alessandro Florenzi.
According to Gazzetta Dello Sport Inter need to get between £77million to £85m in transfer sales to meet the economic needs of the club.
The report states that the Nerazzurri and PSG are in the advanced stages of negotiations.
And the deal would be around £51.5m – turning a profit of £16.5m from when they acquired him permanently from Real Madrid for £34.3m back in 2020.
BERTRAND BLOW
Ryan Bertrand is now a free agent after his contract at Southampton expired.
Arsenal have shown interest in signing Bertrand in the summer transfer window.
According to Football London, however, Leicester are leading the race as they held talks with the talented left-back.
Gunners manager Mikel Arteta is looking to significantly strengthen his squad after a poor season that saw the team missing out on Europe for the first time in 25 years
BRIGHTON REACT
Brighton chief executive Paul Barber has admitted that the Seagulls may not be able to hold on to their best players in the summer.
This comes amid reports suggesting Arsenal are keeping tabs on midfielder Yves Bissouma.
Barber told The Athletic: “I don’t see it as a negative at all. The more the big clubs that are interested in our players, the more we’re doing right, so I am delighted with that.
“We know some of our best players aren’t going to be with us forever and, if the right offer comes along – and it has to be the right offer – and they want to leave, then they can go.
“If we’ve got players leaving, then we’ve got back-up internally, and we can go out into the transfer market.
“We’re always looking ahead, we’re always trying to scout the best young players and bring them into our squad, or loan them out. It’s a really important part of what we do”
FOUR-TY
Nicolas Pepe is not the only one to be celebrating his birthday within the Arsenal family.
Andrey Arshavin turned 40 today and the Gunners shared some wishes on social media.
Arshavin is still remembered by the fans when he scored four goals against Liverpool at Anfield in 2009.
The forward spent four years in the north Londoners’ books before moving to Zenit St Petersburg in 2013
TRUE ART-IST
Manchester City star Raheem Sterling has previously praised Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners are reportedly interested in working out a deal with Sterling ahead of the summer transfer window following rumours suggesting he will be offloaded by City.
The England international previously worked with Arteta when the Spaniard was Pep Guardiola’s assistant manager at the Etihad.
Sterling previously said: “[Arteta is] a person that had a lot of say here [at City]. The manager trusted him here and he had a lot of influence on the players here and the team as well.
“So I knew once he went into Arsenal that it would be a great opportunity for him but also he would definitely implement what he wanted to bring in.
“And he’s a person that will put his foot down and not let things slide as you can see with the boys at Arsenal. They know if they don’t run they are most likely not going to play”
PEP TALK
Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe has been included in the Europa League Squad of the Season.
Pepe joins six Manchester United players, that is Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Scott McTominay, Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani.
The winger had the joint-highest goal contribution – along with Villarreal star Gerard Moreno – in the Europa League as he scored six times and amassed four assists.
Not a bad way for the Ivory Coast international to celebrate his 25th birthday
FINAL EURO SQUAD
England manager Gareth Southgate is expected to name his final squad on Tuesday 1 June.
Southgate named his provisional 33-man shortlist on Tuesday ahead of Euro 2020 but seven players will soon be cut.
So far Bukayo Saka is the only Arsenal player who made the cut ahead of the European championships.
The England boss said: “There are 12 players still to play so we’re always going to need additional players and added to that we have some injuries at different stages, that we have very little info about.
“We felt more time will help us make better decisions. Our preference was to name the 26, but we have not got an ideal hand of cards – a lot of unknowns.
“Info and evidence are very important and we will have a lot more in the next seven days”
STERLING/MAHREZ SALE EXPLAINED
Manchester City appear set to sell Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez ahead of the summer transfer window.
The likes of Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona are monitoring the situation.
According to Metro, manager Pep Guardiola is pulling out all the stops to fund potential moves for the likes of Tottenham star Harry Kane, Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland and Aston Villa ace Jack Grealish.
Gabriel Jesus and Aymeric Laporte could also be let go in the next couple of months
STERLING OPPOSITION
Arsenal have reportedly expressed interest in signing Raheem Sterling in the summer.
Sterling has been deemed surplus to requirements, along with Riyad Mahrez, and the Gunners are keeping tabs on the attacking duo.
However, the north Londoners, who missed out on European qualification for the first time in 25 years, look set to face some fierce opposition from Real Madrid and Barcelona.
That is according to Metro, who claim that the LaLiga giants will make a move for the England international as they look to strengthen their attack after a lacklustre season
LOCK & LOAD
Arsenal have congratulated Joe Willock for being named Premier League Player of the Month.
Willock stood out during his loan stint at Newcastle where he joined up from the Gunners in January.
The midfielder finished the season in style as he scored seven goals in seven consecutive matches.
The 21-year-old is the first Newcastle player to win the award since Alan Shearer in 1996.
CITY SALE
Arsenal are on red alert as Manchester City seem set to sell Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez during the summer transfer window.
Sterling and Mahrez have been very impressive during their tenure in City’s frontline.
According to the Daily Mail, however, the attacking duo has been deemed surplus to requirements.
Nevertheless, the Gunners’ financial limits combined with their failure to qualify for Europe would make it quite difficult to land the two wingers
GETTY IMAGES XHAKA SWAP
Roma may offer midfielder Amadou Diawara plaus cash in return for Granit Xhaka.
Xhaka has been linked with a move away as the midfielder seems keen to try his luck elsewhere and incoming Giallorossi manager Jose Mourinho rates him highly.
However, the Gunners rate the Switzerland international at £21.5million whereas the Serie A giants are offering £10m.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma are looking to sweeten the deal by swapping Diawara
XHAKA DEMAND
Arsenal are demanding £21.5million for Granit Xhaka, who has been linked with a move to Roma.
But Jose Mourinho’s new side only want to pay a mere £10m to land Xhaka this summer.
The star midfielder has been a vital part of manager Mikel Arteta’s reign, playing as a central partner for Thomas Partey and also as a makeshift left-back.
Sky in Italy report that the Gunners will hold out for a fee in the region of £21.5m to let him go.
SALIBA EXIT
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is reportedly bracing himself for offers for centre-back William Saliba.
Saliba joined the Gunners for £27million in 2019 and spent the second half of the season with Nice after playing on loan for St-Etienne last term.
The 20-year-old has yet to make an appearance for Arsenal ever since his move from St-Etienne.
According to Kicker, Bayer Leverkusen have been keeping tabs on Saliba during his time in France and are ready to make their move.
The Frenchman was a regular in the Nice defence, making 20 league appearances in total during their ninth-place finish.
TOP D-OD
Martin Odegaard is Arsenal’s “No1” target ahead of the summer transfer window.
That is according to The Athletic, who claim that the Gunners’ top priority is to sign Odegaard on a permanent basis.
The playmaker joined the north Londoners from Real Madrid on loan last January.
The Norway international put together a raft of impressive performances and has since impressed manager Mikel Arteta to a point that he convinced him to hold on to him
PHIL-ING IN
Barcelona are keen to sell Philippe Coutinho in the summer transfer window after a disappointing spell in Catalonia.
Coutinho joined Barca from Liverpool in 2018 and has failed to stand out at the Nou Camp in the last three years, one of which he spent on loan at Bayern Munich.
The attacking midfielder has been linked with a move away but Arsenal are reportedly not interested in the Brazil international just yet.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano tweeted: “Barcelona are open to sell Philippe Coutinho this summer. Arsenal are NOT interested in signing him, as of today”
GETTY IMAGES
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
