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    Juventus striker ‘offers himself to Real Madrid’ in last-gasp transfer in blow to Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea hopes

    JUVENTUS star Dusan Vlahovic wants a move to Real Madrid amid interest from Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.Vlahovic has been enduring a rough campaign with Juve, who have been slapped with a 15-point deduction that dropped them to 13th place in the Serie A table.
    Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic has asked his agent to seal a move to Real MadridCredit: Getty
    Vlahovic prefers Real Madrid over Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
    The Bianconeri were accused of inflating transfer fees in dealings with other Italian clubs over three seasons to create millions of pounds in “capital gains” for tax purposes.
    According to Defensa Central, the striker wants out and instructed his agent to put together a move to Real, who targeted him last year.

    They say the Serbia international asked his representative to offer himself to Los Blancos on deadline day.
    However the 23-year-old’s camp will push for a summer deal.
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    Vlahovic has been linked with a big Premier League switch as United, Arsenal and Chelsea continue to keep tabs.
    The Red Devils are still looking for a centre-forward to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, following the temporary signing on Wout Weghorst.
    Chelsea also still need someone to spearhead the attack after loaning Romelu Lukaku back to Inter Milan last summer.
    And Arsenal will be without star attacker Gabriel Jesus possibly until March.
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    Vlahovic turned a lot of heads during his four-year stint at Fiorentina as he amassed a total of 49 goals and eight assists in 108 appearances.
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    The Serbian has struggled to set the world alight ever since his move to Juventus last year.
    But the ex-Partizan star has still registered 16 goals and four assists in 37 appearances across all competitions. More

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    Arsenal braced for Bukayo Saka transfer bids from Man City who ‘really like’ England hero amid contract talks

    MANCHESTER CITY “really like” Arsenal star Bukayo Saka, reports claim.The 21-year-old winger is said to be attracting interest from the Etihad.
    Manchester City are reportedly big fans of Arsenal star Bukayo SakaCredit: Getty
    And the Gunners could be forced to brace themselves for an audacious swoop from their title rivals in the future.
    Pep Guardiola’s side are big fans of the England ace, according to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs, writing for CaughtOffside.
    City are claimed to be monitoring his development, which has seen him go from strength to strength in recent months.
    Saka has also been linked with a move to Liverpool in the past.
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    However, the report adds that Saka is currently seen as untouchable by Arsenal.
    It’s also said that Saka has a strong relationship with boss Mikel Arteta, both on a working and personal level.
    And instead of losing Saka to City, the Gunners are expecting him to agree a new deal and commit his future to the club long-term.
    Arsenal reportedly triggered a clause in Saka’s current contract earlier this month that keeps him at the club until at least 2024.
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    Talks are currently thought to be ongoing over a new and improved deal.
    However, discussions over fresh terms are expected to take time.

    Saka has been in stellar form for the Gunners this season, helping Arteta’s side to the top of the Premier League table.
    He has scored seven goals and provided seven assists in 19 Prem games this campaign. More

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    Ex-Arsenal ace Hector Bellerin looks glum as he arrives in Lisbon to complete transfer away from boyhood club Barcelona

    BARCELONA star Hector Bellerin looked glum as he arrived to complete his move to Sporting Lisbon.The ex-Arsenal right-back joined the Portugal giants as a replacement for Pedro Porro, who signed for Tottenham on deadline day.
    Hector Bellerin will join Sporting Lisbon on loan from BarcelonaCredit: Getty
    But Bellerin didn’t look happy when he arrived in Lisbon
    Bellerin returned to Barcelona last summer, but he’s been restricted to seven appearances and just ONE La Liga start.
    And with less than six months left on his Nou Camp contract, he’s on the move once again.
    The 27-year-old was pictured in Lisbon airport on his way to sign.
    But he didn’t exactly look thrilled about the move.
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    And fans have been loving his hilarious reaction on social media upon his arrival in Lisbon.
    One said: “Looks like a hitchhiker.”
    Another said: “Seems lost.”
    A fourth said: “He looks thrilled.”
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    Sporting become Bellerin’s third club in the space after 18 months after he spent the 2021-2022 season on loan at Real Betis before re-signing for Barcelona on 1 September.
    His stints in Spain came after he spent 10 years at Arsenal before his contract was terminated. More

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    Arsenal fans just realised Jorginho will be only their second ever Italian outfield player… can you name the first?

    JORGINHO has joined Arsenal on deadline day – and become only the club’s second outfield Italian signing. Despite Italy producing several world-class stars, very few have ever played for the Gunners.
    Jorginho has swapped 10th-place Chelsea for league leaders ArsenalCredit: Getty
    Only one Italian has ever played outfield for the club before – and it make take even die-hard fans a few minutes to recall who.
    Arturo Lupoli is the only Italian to have worn an Arsenal shirt previously outside of goalkeepers.
    The striker made a handful of first-team appearances for the club in the 2005/06 season after emerging from Arsenal’s youth side.
    Lupoli joined their academy in 2003 from Parma’s Under-17s and proved to be a prolific goal-scorer.
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    He netted 45 goals in 23 academy games and impressed coaches with his form.
    While he could not replicate that level in the first-team and failed to nail down a first-team place, Lupoli did score a brace in the League Cup against Everton.
    The forward would go on to have loan spells at Derby, Norwich and Sheffield United before spending most of the remainder of his career in the Italian lower leagues.
    Arsenal have actually had more Italian goalkeepers than outfield players in the history of their club.
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    Lupoli played alongside Arsenal legend Thierry Henry during his few Arsenal appearancesCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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    The likes of Vito Mannone and Emiliano Viviano have previously stood in between the sticks for the London club but were never regulars.
    Jorginho will be hoping to make a bigger impact with Arsenal once his move is confirmed.
    The midfielder has been at Chelsea since 2018 but is now set for a London switch after Brighton managed to cling onto Moises Caicedo.
    Jorginho, 31, will now be hoping to land the Premier League trophy with table-toppers Arsenal, something which eluded him at Stamford Bridge.
    But he did win the Europa League in 2019 and Champions League in 2021. More

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    Watch Chelsea star Marc Cucurella’s brilliant reaction after being told Jorginho had completed £12m transfer to Arsenal

    MARC CUCURELLA was shocked to learn Jorginho had completed his transfer from Chelsea to Arsenal.The defender found out during an interview and could barely believe the news.

    Marc Cucurella was shocked to learn of Jorginho’s transferCredit: Goal
    A leaked image of Jorginho in an Arsenal shirt emerged on social mediaCredit: Twitter
    Jorginho’s transfer to Arsenal is set to be announcedCredit: Getty
    Cucurella was asked by Goal who he thought the most intelligent player in the Chelsea squad, and answered Jorginho.
    But as he was about to explain his reasoning he was interrupted and was shocked to discover there were photos of the Italian in a Gunners shirt.

    Cucurella said he was aware of the rumours after reading about a potential deal yesterday, and he began laughing in response when he realised Jorginho would no longer be his team-mate.
    The transfer is set to be officially announced with Jorginho completing a £12million move to The Emirates and signing an 18-month deal with the option of an extra year.
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    Jorginho was snapped grinning from ear-to-ear in an Arsenal shirt alongside his agent, Joao Santos.
    And his new squad number also appears to have been revealed.
    He was wearing Arsenal tracksuit bottoms in the picture sporting the No20, which is currently unoccupied.
    The Gunners moved for Jorginho as an alternative to number one target Moises Caicedo.
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    Arsenal had multiple offers for the midfielder rejected by Brighton, the latest worth around £75m.
    Mikel Arteta’s side could move back in for the Ecuadorian in the summer. More

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    Arsenal get one over Tottenham as Per Mertesacker poaches key member of staff from North London rivals

    ARSENAL have snapped up Tottenham academy chief Chris Perkins.Perkins was working in the role of emerging talent manager at Spurs.
    Chris Perkins will work with Per Mertesacker in the Arsenal academyCredit: Getty
    He had previously worked as the head of the academies of Derby County and Everton.
    However he has now been poached by Tottenham’s fierce rivals Arsenal.
    Perkins will take up a role as the professional development phase scout in the Gunners academy.
    He will be working under former Arsenal defender and captain Per Mertesacker.
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    During his time at Derby, he was praised for his work that helped a number of young players make the leap to the first team.
    He was reportedly wanted by Everton, who had hoped to re-hire him but he decided on moving to Arsenal, according to the Evening Standard.
    Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal are attempting to bring in younger players and improve the academy.
    This means that the club could continue to use it as a source of players.
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    The academy has been able to produce talents such as first-team players Eddie Nketiah, Riess Nelson, and of course Bukayo Saka in recent years.
    It is believed that Perkins will start his role this week. More

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    Arsenal and Tottenham tipped to make last-gasp Allan Saint-Maximin transfer after Newcastle sign Anthony Gordon

    ARSENAL and Tottenham should make a late bid for Newcastle forward Allan Saint-Maximin, according to former Premier League striker Louis Saha.Saint-Maximin, 25, has struggled for game time at St James’ Park so far this season.
    Allan Saint-Maximin has not started a Premier League game since AugustCredit: Getty
    He was plagued by injuries at the beginning of the campaign, suffering from hamstring and other muscular problems.
    But he has been fit since the end of October, with Eddie Howe still opting not to start him in a single Premier League game.
    He has not been named in a Newcastle XI in the league since the end of August.
    That is despite Saint-Maximin acting as the shining light for the Magpies last season.
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    The team appear to be thriving without him and even added to their forward line in the January transfer window through the acquisition of £45million man Anthony Gordon.
    And Gordon’s arrival is one Saha believes Arsenal and Tottenham should capitalise on by trying to sign the out-of-favour Saint-Maximin.
    Speaking to GGRecon, the former Man Utd, Spurs, Everton and Fulham forward said: “All young players should see how quick football goes.
    “It’s unbelievable because last season Saint-Maximin was unreal and nobody would have been thinking about the prospect of Newcastle selling him.
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    “He’s been unlucky this season with injuries, but he’s a top player and he could potentially find a move to one of the ‘big six’ clubs.
    “I could see Arsenal or Tottenham having a player of Saint-Maximin’s quality and style.”
    The Gunners have already added to their forward line this month through the signing of Leandro Trossard from Brighton for £27m.

    Spurs have also done business in attack, stealing Arnaut Danjuma from under Everton’s noses in a loan deal until the end of the season.
    But Saint-Maximin could still add something to both squads, with Arsenal going for the title and Tottenham looking to clinch a top-four spot.
    The Newcastle forward has contributed 13 goals and 19 assists in 109 games since arriving from Nice for £16.5m in 2019.
    Louis Saha has called on Arsenal and Tottenham to try and sign Saint-MaximinCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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    Shock stats show Arsenal might have pulled off masterstroke with Jorginho transfer with midfielder BETTER than Caicedo

    ARSENAL finally turned their back on Moises Caicedo and opted for a cut-price swoop for Jorginho instead – and it could prove a masterstroke.The Gunners saw bids of £60million and £70m rejected by Brighton as Caicedo, 21, failed to secure a move despite publicly begging to be sold.
    Jorginho has agreed a deal to join Arsenal on deadline dayCredit: Getty
    Thomas Partey could fight it out with Jorginho for a place in the Arsenal teamCredit: Getty
    And while Arsenal were reportedly lining up a third offer of £75m on deadline day, they have now agreed a deal with London rivals Chelsea to sign Jorginho, 31, for just £12m.
    He may not have been Mikel Arteta’s first choice, but the Italy international is a world-class operator who will push Granit Xhaka, 30, and Thomas Partey, 29, for a starting place.
    New stats have even revealed he could be a better option than both Partey and Caicedo.
    Since the start of the 2021-22 Premier League season, Jorginho has played seven games more than Partey and 21 more than Caicedo.
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    His penalty expertise has seen him register eight goals, more than his two counterparts have managed between them (Partey 4 and Caicedo 2).
    And the Italian also has two assists to his name – with neither Caicedo (2) or Partey (1) bettering that tally.
    But that’s only scratching the surface when it comes to Jorginho’s impressive numbers.
    Out of the three midfield maestros, he also completes the most passes per game, has the best pass completion rate and registers the most passes in the final third.
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    How Jorginho, Partey and Caicedo compare since the start of last season
    Moises Caicedo appears to have missed out on a move to Arsenal this monthCredit: Getty
    Jorginho dwarfs Partey and Caicedo when it comes to possessions won per game, while he also beats the Ghanaian when it comes to tackles and interceptions.
    In fact, there are only three statistical areas which show the ex-Chelsea man’s weaknesses.
    He comes up short in distance carried – an area which Partey beats him by an average of 14 metres.
    Jorginho, who is a decade older than Caicedo, is dribbled past more than the pair, and his duel success is also the lowest.
    But overall the figures are overwhelmingly in favour of the Euro 2020 winner.
    And his price tag also means Arsenal have saved themselves a large sum of money – particularly given Brighton were asking for £80m for Caicedo.
    Jorginho could make his debut for the Gunners away at Everton on Sunday.
    If he is not ready in time, his first game will then come at home to Brentford on February 11. More