ARSENAL have reportedly made the capture of Martin Odegaard their No1 transfer priority this summer.
The Real Madrid playmaker has made a real impression at the Emirates on loan and Mikel Arteta looks set to swoop in the close-season.
We’ve also got the very latest on Emi Buendia and Granit Xhaka, while Raheem Sterling has been linked with the Gunners after it emerged he could leave Man City.
Follow all the latest from North London with our live blog below…
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THIA-NO-GO
Exclusive by Jordan Davies: Arsenal’s move for Sporting Lisbon striker Tiago Tomas hangs in the balance after failing to qualify for Europe.
The Gunners have been in talks with the Portuguese side for months to prize away the 18-year-old this summer.
However, Sporting are determined not to see their squad torn apart after winning the Portuguese title for the first time in 19 years and qualifying for the Champions League.
And SunSport understands that after Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal failed to guarantee European football next campaign, their chances of snatching him have taken a blow.
Tomas signed a five-year deal in June 2020 with a release clause of £52million – but that was expected to be lowered to around £20m due to the financial situation.
Yet Sporting’s position has now strengthened after their performances this year.
EDDIE SET GO
Watford want to sign Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah ahead of their Premier League return, according to reports.
The Gunners will reportedly demand £15million for the England youth international, who has a year left on his Emirates contract.
According to the Mirror, Arsenal are looking to cash in on Nketiah before his contract expires – and Watford are willing to make a bid.
BERTRAND BLOW
Left-back Ryan Bertrand is now a free agent after his contract at Southampton expired.
Arsenal have shown interest in signing Bertrand in the upcoming summer transfer window.
According to Football London, however, Leicester are leading the race as they held talks with the talented full-back.
Gunners manager Mikel Arteta is looking to significantly strengthen his squad after a poor season that saw the team missing out on European qualification for the first time in 25 years
WILLI-END
Arsenal ace Willian is likely to leave the club in the summer.
The attacking midfielder failed to deliver at the Emirates ever since his move from Chelsea last year.
According to Sky Sports, the Brazil international is keen on a return to the Blues or a move to the MLS.
That could lead to a £15million profit for the Gunners, who are looking to raise funds ahead of the transfer window
GETTY IMAGES NATH-ING MORE
Stoke are waiting on Manchester United, Arsenal and Crystal Palace to swoop in for young defender Nathan Collins.
Collins is reportedly targeted by Burnley but the Potters have placed a high asking price for the Irish centre-back.
The 20-year-old made 27 appearances across all competitions this term.
United are on the lookout for a defender but are focusing all their attentions on the likes of Real Madrid star Raphael Varane and Villarreal ace Pau Torres
LAC IT UP
Arsenal legend Kevin Campbell has urged his former club to extend Alexandre Lacazette’s contract, which runs out in 2022, by a year.
Campbell said: “He’s a great link player.
“We saw him link up with [Emile] Smith Rowe, [Bukayo] Saka and [Gabriel] Martinelli, especially in that Chelsea game and moving on from there proved to be pretty, pretty awesome.
“So I’d extend him by a year”
HAK IT OUT
Inter Milan star Achraf Hakimi is too expensive for Arsenal, according to Goal journalist Charles Watts.
Hakimi is on the verge of leaving Inter due to the club’s financial problems and has been touted as a potential replacement for Hector Bellerin at right-back.
Watts said on his YouTube channel: “They want to sign a right-back this summer, we know that, doesn’t look like it’s going to be Hakimi.
“I am sure you have seen that he is very heavily linked with Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Chelsea for around £60million as well.
“That’s certainly a price tag that puts Arsenal out of the equation for Hakimi”
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.
XHAKA REPLACEMENT
Arsenal ace Granit Xhaka appears to be on his way out of the Emirates ahead of the summer transfer window.
Xhaka has hinted that he is willing to look for new challenges and has been linked with a move to Roma.
Incoming Giallorossi boss Jose Mourinho appears to be keen to work with the midfielder at the Olimpico.
Meanwhile, Arsenal technical director Edu previously suggested that Thomas Partey could replace the Switzerland international in terms of leadership on and off the pitch
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”
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
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
TOP D-OD
Martin Odegaard poses as Arsenal’s “No1” target ahead of the summer transfer window.
That is according to The Athletic, who report that the Gunners’ top priority is to sign Odegaard on a permanent basis.
The attacking midfielder joined the north Londoners from Real Madrid on loan last January.
The Norway international put together a number of impressive performances and has since impressed manager Mikel Arteta to a point that he convinced him to hold on to him
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
