Arsenal transfer news

ARSENAL are set to trigger an extension to the contract of promising midfielder Charlie Patino.The 19-year-old is currently enjoying a loan spell at Championship side Blackpool.
Arsenal are reportedly set to trigger an extension to Charlie Patino’s contractCredit: Getty
His current deal ontract at the Emirates expires at the end of the seasonCredit: Getty
In his 17 games for the Tangerines, Patino has scored twice and assisted two more goals.
He has become a fan favourite at Bloomfield Road, with fans coming up with their own song for the midfielder.
Despite missing four games earlier in the season due to a twisted ankle, he has impressed with his regular game time.
Patino’s form has convinced Arsenal that he deserves an extension to his contract at the Emirates.
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The Gunners are set to trigger a two-year extension to his deal, which is set to expire at the end of the current season, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The decision may also have been affected by the reported interest from La Liga giants Barcelona.
The Catalan club are believed to be closely monitoring his situation as they consider a swoop for him.
Patino has Spanish heritage through his father, who idolises former Barcelona star Andres Iniesta.
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Arsenal already managed to win the race to sign him as a youngster ahead of Chelsea and Manchester City.
Therefore the North London club would not want to see their own labour not come to any tangible reward. More

ARSENAL fans are convinced sporting director Edu is cooking up something special for the January transfer window.The Gunners legend, 44, has posted similar videos ahead of transfer windows and fans are convinced it’s a good sign as he cook what looks to be king prawns.
Edu took to the kitchenCredit: Instagram
Fans believe the Brazilian is cooking up something special for the January transfer windowCredit: Instagram
One fan said: “Edu cooking from kitchen means something special. We’re moving mad in January.”
Another added: “BREAKING NEWS!!! FRESH FROM THE FIRE. EDU IS COOKING FOR JANUARY!!!!! SOUND THE ALARM FOLKS.”
Mikel Arteta is in the market for a player or two – but admits it’s important to land the right player.
His team sit top of the Premier League after 14 games played and five points clear of title rivals Manchester City.
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Arteta is keen not to run out of steam.
He said: “We will always be active in the market and we will assess the biggest opportunities that we have.
“We are looking to strengthen the team.
“This squad still doesn’t have the luxury of not maximising every single window. We have to do that because it’s really important.”
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The Spaniard added: “We have to get the right profile, it has to be the right player to take us to the next level.”
There may be an added sense of urgency from the Arsenal transfer chiefs in the New Year following the injury of star striker Gabriel Jesus.
The Brazil star withdrew from Tite’s World Cup squad and had to have surgery on his right knee.
And Arteta is unsure on a return date for the summer signing.
Speaking to the media ahead of Arsenal’s Boxing Day clash with West Ham, Arteta said: “With Gabi it’s difficult to put a time frame. I never gave a date. I said that we don’t know.
“It’s going to take some time for sure. He’s gone through surgery and that tells you the extent of the injury.
“We will be in the market always active and we will assess the biggest opportunities that we have.”
In the meantime, Hale End academy product Eddie Nketiah could get the nod to lead the line.
Focus in the market appears to be geared towards bolstering Arteta’s midfield and wide attacking options.
Shakhtar Donestk youngster Mykhaylo Mudryk was on the north Londoners’ radar in the summer and is still wanted by Arteta.
Shakhtar will demand a minimum of £85million for the 21-year-old forward.
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While Juventus’ Adrien Rabiot – fresh off the back of a World Cup campaign with France – is also a target.
Rabiot’s deal with the Old Lady expires next summer and a deal could be struck early to avoid losing the player for NOTHING. More

ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta says Granit Xhaka adapting to a more advanced role was a “necessity” and revealed he threatened to AXE him if he didn’t.The Swiss star, 30, has been one of Arsenal’s standout stars this season.
Arteta threatened to give Xhaka the axe if he didn’t adapt to a new attacking roleCredit: Getty
Arteta convinced an unhappy Xhaka to stay at Arsenal in 2020 when an exit looked likelyCredit: Reuters
Arsenal sit top of the Premier League at Christmas after 14 games and five points clear of reigning champions Manchester City.
And on a personal level, Xhaka has gone from zero to hero under Arteta, having previously been stripped of the club captaincy in 2019 and being widely disliked after gesturing back at booing fans against Crystal Palace.
Boss Arteta was the man to convince Xhaka to stay put in 2020 with the midfield intent on heading for the exit door.
He is also the man that has revolutionised Xhaka into a competent player in the final third.
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Xhaka has four goals and three assists to his name this term and was told if he didn’t adapt to a new attacking role, he faced being axed.
Arteta told Sky Sports: “I think it was a necessity [change in role].
“I think the squad wanted to evolve to another level and be more dominant and have more resources in the final third to attack and to score more goals.
“We needed to make that change.
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“I spoke to him at the end of the season and said, ‘I need to unlock something in your brain because you’re so comfortable and confident playing in this area that you have forgot what is actually going to win us the game and the team now demands somebody here, so unless you unlock that I’m going to have to do something about it’.
“He took it straight away. He’s a very intelligent player, he came to pre-season fitter than ever, slimmer than ever, and he knew that if we wanted to take the team to a different level we had to change his role. He knew that was coming.
“We believed he has those qualities, those qualities were there to be exploited and they were hiding.
“The team needed those qualities very much.
“As I said, he is extremely intelligent, he has the physical capacity to constantly threat and occupy those spaces and recover his position quickly enough to have the balance we need.
“He’s been really consistent, the way he trains, the way he practises, to evolve to the demands we want for the team.
“He’s a special person. He’s very straight, he’s very honest, he’s very loyal and he’s very passionate about what he does.
“So when you have someone like that you want to help him, you want to protect him, you want him to fulfil the talent he has.
“He’s made some mistakes and he’s learnt from it, but he has always faced adversity and difficulty and he’s never run away from it.
“This is what all managers wants from their players.
“You know you can count on him, he will fight and break walls for you. This is what we expect from our players.”
Arsenal are back in action on Boxing Day at the Emirates against West Ham.
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The Hammers sit one point above the drop zone and under fire manager David Moyes has admitted it’ll be a difficult trip to the North London outfit.
He said on Arsenal: “They have got a really good set pattern, but also it has got flexibility and it is quite difficult to look at and understand.”
Xhaka’s Prem stats this season More

GABRIEL JESUS was snapped arriving at Arsenal’s training centre on crunches as Mikel Arteta conceded the club may need to think about replacements. The Brazilian striker is expected to spend some time on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury in the World Cup.
Jesus said he was ‘progressing’ in an Instagram update to fansCredit: Instagram / @dejesusoficial
Mikel Arteta is aiming to take Arsenal to their first Premier League title since 2005Credit: Getty
His knock has left some Arsenal fans fearing their title charge might be derailed after the Gunners raced into a five point lead before domestic football paused.
Jesus has proven to be an integral part of Arteta’s side following his summer transfer from title rivals Manchester City.
The 25-year-old limped off during Brazil’s shock World Cup group stage defeat against Cameroon earlier this month.
Arsenal have since confirmed Jesus has undergone an operation on his right knee but have not put a timescale on his return.
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He posted a picture of himself on crutches on Instagram as he continues to fight his way to fitness.
The forward added the caption “progressing” with prayer hand emojis.
Meanwhile, his manager has conceded the Gunners may need to dive into January’s transfer window to cover for Jesus.
Speaking to the media ahead of Arsenal’s Boxing Day clash with West Ham, Arteta said: “With Gabi it’s difficult to put a time frame. I never gave a date. I said that we don’t know.
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“It’s going to take some time for sure. He’s gone through surgery and that tells you the extent of the injury.
“We will be in the market always active and we will assess the biggest opportunities that we have.”
The World Cup came at the worst possible time for the in-form London club.
Arsenal had won seven of their last eight Premier League games and have not lost since an early September trip to Old Trafford.
That result might have been different too if Gabriel Martinelli’s goal had stood, with VAR this week admitting the decision was a mistake.
Manchester City’s shock defeat to Brentford last month allowed Arsenal to open a five point lead in the table.
Difficult fixtures against Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester United await the table toppers in January. More

ARSENAL look set to lose out on Brazil star Matheus Cunha with Wolves confident of landing the forward, according to reports.Julen Lopetegui is looking to bring reinforcements into Molineux after taking over as boss of the Midlands club.
Cunha has been heavily linked with a Premier League moveCredit: Getty
The Spaniard has a big job on his hands with misfiring Wolves propping up the Premier League table heading into the World Cup break.
But the club look to have gotten a boost as the Mail indicates they are closing in on Cunha.
The striker is out of favour at Atletico Madrid and had been linked with a Premier League move.
Arsenal were among several English clubs linked with the 23-year-old.
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But it now appears very likely Cunha will be heading to Wolves.
The proposed deal will reportedly be an initial loan with an obligation to buy worth up to £40million.
Leeds and Everton were also believed to have been jostling for the star but positive negotiations has swung the deal in Wolves’ favour.
If complete, he will be the first signing of Lopetegui’s reign.
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Cunha has only struggled to hold down a place in Diego Simeone’s Atletico team since signing for the Spanish club in 2021.
Wolves fans will be hoping he can bring some goal threat to their side.
The Wanderers are the only top-flight side yet to reach double figures for goals.
Diego Costa has failed to find the net in his six Premier League appearances while £15m summer signing Sasa Kalajdzic sustained a serious injury only weeks after his move.
Lopetegui won his first game in charge on Tuesday as Wolves edged past League 2 Gillingham in the EFL Cup. More

CEDRIC SOARES’ Arsenal wages could scupper a loan move to Fulham next month.The Cottagers have held talks with the right-back’s representatives over a switch to West London next month with boss Marco Silva keen to sign his compatriot.
Soares could be heading across the capital if his wage demands are metCredit: Getty
But the former Southampton man’s weekly wage of around £75,000 is proving a stumbling block.
Silva is keen to add to his squad next month following a strong start to the season which left the promoted side ninth ahead of the restart on Boxing Day.
No official approach has been made to the Gunners so far, with Mikel Arteta also yet to decide whether he would sanction Cedric’s departure.
The Arsenal boss has already described his squad as “short” this season.

Ben White has often played at right-back with Japan international Takehiro Tomiyasu struggling with a number of niggling injuries this season.
Arsenal are thought to want an obligation to buy included in any loan deal for the 31-year-old should it go ahead.
Should Fulham decide against a move, Spanish side Villarreal and German club Bayer Leverkusen are also keeping a keen eye on the Portugal international.
Cedric first joined the Gunners on loan from Southampton in 2020 before making the switch permanent on a free transfer following the end of his contract on the South Coast.
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The former Sporting Lisbon full-back has made just two sub appearances from the bench in the Premier League so far this season, playing a total of 28 minutes in the league.
Cedric can also be deployed at left-back, meaning Arteta may want to keep him around as cover.
Oleksandr Zinchenko has struggled with calf injuries during his first season at the club and the Arsenal boss does not want to be caught short as he pushes for the title.
Marco Silva is looking to bolster his squad after a good start to the seasonCredit: Getty More