PORTO have announced the sale of Fabio Vieira to Arsenal.
Meanwhile, the Gunners have reportedly made a £26m bid for Lisandro Martinez of Ajax, who is believed to be their top defensive target.
The North Londoners are also looking to complete a deal for long-time target Gabriel Jesus as quickly as possible.
And they remain confident of signing Youri Tielemans, with Vieira not seen as an alternative signing to the Leicester star.
Arsenal have also been busy securing Eddie Nketiah for the long-term, with the striker’s new contract now confirmed.
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Ozil set for career switch
Mesut Ozil is set for a new career once he hangs up his boots – by becoming a PROFESSIONAL GAMER!
Ozil’s agent Dr Erkut Sogut told The Telegraph: “He will go more into esports, play himself and maybe become an esports athlete.
“He’s really good, to be honest, at Fortnite and I think one day I wouldn’t be surprised if he is competing.
“He owns a team – M10 Esports – and he has players.
“He has a gaming house in Germany.
“He has football, like Fifa, and Fortnite.”
Arsenal bid rejected
Arsenal have reportedly had a £25m offer for Lisandro Martinez rejected by Ajax.
But the Gunners remain undeterred and will press forward with another bid, according to The Athletic.
It should be smooth sailing for the Gunners if they hash out terms with Ajax as the defender is keen on joining the North Londoners, the report adds.
New Arsenal keeper speaks
Incoming Arsenal keeper Matt Turner has bid farewell to his New England Revolution team-mates.
In a virtual press conference, he said: “I’m just focused on saying goodbye to these fans who hold a special place in my heart.
“They welcomed me to this team, made me feel like a superstar even when I was playing [at USL League One’s] Richmond [Kickers].
“It’s been tough with COVID, not getting the chance to be with them one-on-one, signing autographs as frequently. I hope Sunday we’ll rectify all that and leave on good terms.”
Vlahovic speaks on Arsenal snub
Dusan Vlahovic has finally opened up over snubbing Arsenal for Juventus and insisted there was only one club for him.
When asked about the offer from the Gunners, he told The Telegraph: “Maybe my agent knows but I never talked to anyone about it.
“I just had one club in my mind because Juventus is Juventus. There is nothing else to say.
“And now I feel honoured to be given this jersey. It’s incredible every time I put it on.”
Merson makes transfer plea
Paul Merson has urged Arsenal to buy Southampton star James Ward-Prowse amid interest from West Ham.
He told the Daily Star: “Arsenal cannot allow West Ham to buy James Ward-Prowse. I think he is a great signing for whoever gets him.
“I think he is one of the best passers of the ball in England. Him and Trent Alexander-Arnold see things few other English players do and they can spray it around the pitch because they have such a good range of passing.
“I don’t understand why Arsenal are not pulling out all the stops to try and take James Ward-Prowse from Southampton.
“Arsenal need to buy experience and they would be buying an experienced England international who knows the Premier League and would make a huge difference to them.”
Arsenal’s relentess transfer plans
Arsenal have no plans of slowing down in the transfer market despite landing Fabio Vieira.
The Gunners are tailing top priority target Lisandro Martinez, according to The Athletic.
And they could be in luck as the defender is open to a transfer, the report adds.
Plus, Arsenal are looking to bring in Gabriel Jesus as swiftly as possible, it was also stated.
Wilshere makes transfer plea
Jack Wilshere has urged former club Arsenal to sign Leeds ace Raphinha.
Wilshere told talkSPORT: For someone who’s only been in England for two years, he’s got a lot of experience,” Wilshere told talkSPORT.
“He came to England and just clicked straight away. He was in a relegation battle last year so he knows he’s up for a fight.
“I think he’d be a good one for Arsenal. He’ll be expensive, of course he will.”
‘The Antonio Conte factor’
Tottenham’s signing of Yves Bissouma despite interest from Arsenal and Man United shows players want to join the Lilywhites ahead of their rivals.
That’s the view of Jamie O’Hara who reckons Spurs boss Antonio Conte possesses the pulling power over his Prem counterparts.
O’Hara told Grosvenor Sport: “I know there were other teams after him – Arsenal, Man United – but it seems as if players are starting to pick Spurs over anyone else, which is the Antonio Conte factor.
“The Bissouma move is extra sweet for Spurs fans. That’s the biggest thing right now, Spurs are getting players over their rivals like Arsenal.
“For Spurs to get a player of that quality over Arsenal just shows where they are now and how big getting that Champions League spot was.
“It’s showing that Spurs are going to attract the better players to their team.”
Bissouma realises Champions League dream
Yves Bissouma has revealed he can’t wait to play in the Champions League with Tottenham.
He said: “The emotion is too much but I just say thank you to God.
“It’s my dream to play Champions League, when I was young I was watching it every day.
“I can’t believe I’m going to play in it with Spurs, I’m so happy.”
In the Hick of time
Arsenal are reportedly set to launch an £18million summer transfer bid for Aaron Hickey.
And they are willing to include a sell-on clause to persuade Italian side Bologna into a deal.
And to convince Bologna it’s a deal worth making, the Gunners will also include a clause entitling the Italians to a chunk of Hickey’s next transfer fee.
Arteta wants Hickey to become his third signing of the summer.
Arsenal have already landed Brazilian winger Marquinhos and are now set to welcome Porto playmaker Fabio Vieira.
Not a Fab deal
Porto’s decision to sell Fabio Vieira to Arsenal for £34m hasn’t sat well with former club president José Fernando Rio.
He thinks Porto have undersold the attacking midfielder.
Speaking to Rádio Renascença, via Record, he fumed: “The financial administrator had already announced the need to realise between €70-100m in capital gains this year, and I was already waiting for the bleeding to start.
“Obviously, we have to discount the intermediation costs. At Porto, we never know they are high or low, but normally they are quite high.
“President Pinto da Costa has been filling his mouth with numbers, saying that Porto has a situation that allows players to be negotiated only through the release clause, and we see that this is not true.”
Arsenal’s costly European failure
Arsenal’s failure to qualify for the Champions League has resulted in them missing out on Yves Bissouma.
The Brighton ace has joined Tottenham for £25m.
Bissouma wanted Champions League football
He was keen to join a club competing in the Champions League and is excited to work under Antonio Conte.
Arsenal had regularly been linked with Bissouma during the last two seasons, but will now look to pursue Youri Tielemans.
Osimhen transfer battle
Tottenham are reportedly preparing to swoop in and steal Napoli striker Victor Osimhen from under Arsenal’s nose.
The Gunners had an initial bid of £51million rejected by the Serie A side earlier this week as they eye a replacement for Alexandre Lacazette.
Reports have stated Mikel Arteta’s men are now considering a club record £86m bid to get a deal over the line.
Man Utd have also been linked with a move for the Nigerian.
However, according to journalist Lorenzo Amuso, Spurs could well get there ahead of them both.
This is because Antonio Conte’s side are able to offer Osimhen Champions League football next season.
It’s Asensio ‘at all costs’
Arsenal have been busy putting their disappointment of missing out on the Champions League behind them, and have been making strides in the transfer market.
A deal for Porto’s Fabio Vieira has been all but confirmed, talks for Gabriel Jesus are progressing, and, now, they are pushing hard for Marco Asensio.
According to Sport (via Sports Witness), the Gunners want to sign the Spanish international ‘at all costs’.
Asensio has been in talks with current club Real Madrid regarding a contract extension, but is aware that a place in the first team at the Bernabeu is far from guaranteed.
The 26-year-old is eager for game time ahead of November’s World Cup, and would consider a move to the Premier League – and sources close to Madrid understand that Arsenal are best placed to make a move for the forward.
Nketiah to pen new deal
Eddie Nketiah is poised to put pen to paper on a new Arsenal contract, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The young striker had looked destined to leave the Emirates this summer once his current deal reached its conclusion.
However, a run of starts and important goals towards the end of the season prompted both parties to reconsider their position, and the 23-year-old now looks set to stay.
Nketiah’s new contract is expected to keep him at the Emirates until 2027, and will ward off interest from a number of Bundesliga clubs.
Porto confirm Vieira’s Arsenal move
Porto have released a statement informing the market of an agreement to sell Fabio Vieira to Arsenal.
The Portuguese club announced that a ‘deal was complete for the amount of €40m, and of these, €5m are dependent on achievement of sports objectives.’
There has yet to be any official confirmation from Arsenal, who are understood to be carrying out the midfielder’s medical at this moment.
Second coming? Jesus wants Arteta reunion
Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus is eager to reunite with Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.
Sky Sports’ journalist Melissa Reddy has revealed that the Brazilian striker is keen on the idea of playing for his former coach, who he enjoyed a good relationship during their time together at the Etihad.
Arteta was assistant to Pep Guardiola when Jesus joined City in 2017, and would often offer the Brazilian striker advice and individual coaching sessions.
Vieira to undergo Arsenal medical
Porto midfielder Fabio Vieira will undergo a medical at Arsenal this afternoon ahead of a £30m move to the Emirates.
The Gunners agreed a transfer fee for the 22-year-old earlier this week, and are also understood to have agreed personal terms with the player.
Assuming his medical runs smoothly, Vieira will pen a five-year contract with the Premier League club.
The Portuguese playmaker created a league-high 14 assists in the Primeira Liga last season, and was voted player of the tournament at last year’s European Under-21 Championship.
Atalanta ‘considering’ loan of Tavares
Serie A outfit Atalanta are said to be ‘considering a loan move’ for Arsenal misfit Nuno Tavares.
According to Gazetta dello Sport (via The Mail), the Italians are weighing up whether to bring the left-back to Bergamo for the upcoming campaign.
Tavares made 28 appearances during his first season at the Emirates – mainly as cover for Kieran Tierney – after arriving for £8m from Benfica last summer.
However, the 22-year-old was often the scapegoat for some poor performances, especially after being hauled off early by Mikel Arteta on more than one occasion.
The Gunners are unlikely to allow the Portuguese defender to leave without cover for the injury-prone Tierney – which may hint at the imminent arrival of another Scot in Aaron Hickey.
Good morning Arsenal fans
Arsenal have placed Gabriel Jesus their No.1 transfer target, according to Fabrizio Romano.
He said to Caught Offside: “Gabriel Jesus is still the main target of Arsenal as of today.
“In the next few hours there will be new contacts to understand if they can reach an agreement or move to other targets.
“There is not only Arsenal on Gabriel, who will leave Man City at 100%. He’s a top player who wants to start matches, and it’s not too surprising to see him take his time over a decision on his future.”
Elsewhere, Eddie Nketiah has reportedly penned a new deal with Arsenal.
His new contract will see him stay at Arsenal for more than a decade after he joined the club in 2015, according to the Evening Standard.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have reportedly triggered Porto ace Fabio Vieira’s release clause.
The Gunners have launched a £36m bid free Vieira from his contract entanglement, according to the Express.
It is thought that the 22-year-old is traveling to North London to undergo a medical before completing his switch to the capital, the report adds.
Arsenal will pay Porto £29.8m for Fabio Vieira, plus £4.2m, reports revealed.
The 22-year-old will sign a five-year deal with the Gunners, according to David Ornstein.
His switch to North London was facilitated by super agent Jorge Mendes.
Mendes also played a pivotal role in Nicolas Pepe’s transfer to Arsenal last summer.
Finally, Arsenal are reportedly closing in on the signing of Bologna full-back Aaron Hickey.
The Emirates will likely be the next best destination for the 20-year-old, according to the Scotsman.
However, the Gunners will have to cough up £18m minimum for Hickey, the report adds.
Arsenal make Jesus transfer priority
Arsenal have placed Gabriel Jesus their No.1 transfer target, according to Fabrizio Romano.
He said to Caught Offside: “Gabriel Jesus is still the main target of Arsenal as of today.
“In the next few hours there will be new contacts to understand if they can reach an agreement or move to other targets.
“There is not only Arsenal on Gabriel, who will leave Man City at 100%. He’s a top player who wants to start matches, and it’s not too surprising to see him take his time over a decision on his future.”
Nketiah signs new deal
Eddie Nketiah has reportedly penned a new deal with Arsenal.
His new contract will see him stay at Arsenal for more than a decade after he joined the club in 2015, according to the Evening Standard.
The striker’s commitment to Arsenal comes after he was linked with a move away from Arsenal this summer.
Arsenal face Scamacca transfer battle
Arsenal may lose out on transfer target Gianluca Scamacca to PSG.
The Gunners have reportedly tabled a £25m bid for the Sassuolo forward.
But PSG’s new transfer chief Luis Campos has held talks with Sassuolo’s director about the star.
Sassuolo director Carnevali told Sky Sport: “Scamacca deal with PSG? Luís Campos is a good friend, we’ve had talks also in Paris for the UCL final.
“Scamacca certainly was one of the names we mentioned”
Fabio Vieira gets glowing review
Arsenal have been given an insight of what they can expect from Emirates-bound Fabio Vieira.
The Porto star has cemented himself in Portugal’s youth setup, and U21 boss Rui Jorge raved about the 22-year-old’s ability in a prior interview.
Jorge enthused last year: “He is a very technically advanced player, he is good at defining, but he needs to improve some aspects of his game in order to become a full-fledged player.
“He knows this and will work on these aspects. Fabio has a great future if he sees fit. I think he wants to be the player he can be. I believe that we can meet a great player.”
Arsenal confident of signing Jesus
Arsenal are reportedly confident of beating Chelsea to signing Gabriel Jesus from Man City.
The Gunners believe Jesus’ relationship with Arteta from when they worked together at City will give them the edge in the transfer race, according to The Times.
However, the Gunners also face competition from Real Madrid who also want the Brazilian, the report adds.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
