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    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta ‘requests Youri Tielemans in January transfer with Leicester ready to cash in’

    MIKEL ARTETA has requested Arsenal sign Youri Tielemans in January, according to reports.And they could try and tempt Leicester to cash in on their £40million Belgian midfielder.
    Youri Tielemans’ transfer future remains unclearCredit: Getty
    Tielemans, 25, is out of contract at the King Power at the end of the season and has rejected the offer of an extension.
    SunSport revealed the Arsenal board will back Arteta in the January transfer window to bolster the squad and continue their surprise title challenge.
    And according to Rudy Galetti reporter Manuel Maraia, he is finally going to push for a move for Tielemans.
    The article adds they face competition from another English team and two teams in Serie A for Tielemans’ signature.
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    But it is understood Leicester retain hope he will put pen to paper on a new deal with the Foxes and extend his stay in the East Midlands.
    Although Brendan Rodgers’ side are being linked with Lorient’s French midfielder Enzo Le Fee as a possible replacement should they lose their No8.
    Tielemans would improve the options in the middle of the park for Arsenal, especially with Thomas Partey’s injury struggles.
    The Gunners have been linked with Tielemans for the past few transfer windows but never made a formal bid.
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    After signing Fabio Vieira, they failed in their deadline-day bids for Douglas Luiz, who has now signed a new Aston Villa contract.
    Tielemans struggled to find his best form last season but has been back near his mercurial best this term.
    The FA Cup winner has scored twice in 13 Premier League appearances – including his stunning volley against Wolves.
    The ex-Monaco ace – who is set to be part of the Belgian World Cup squad in Qatar – has even captained Leicester in recent weeks.
    Manager Brendan Rodgers said this week: “Youri’s been a fantastic professional for us, even though he’s in the situation with his contract, he’s never wavered with his mentality and what he gives to the team.
    “Youri provides the team with a great know-how in the game. He’s a wonderful player to work with.
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    “I’ll just continue to work and develop his game while he’s here, however long that is.
    “I’d love him to sign another deal and continue his journey here. We’ll see in the coming months.”
    Mikel Arteta may go all out to land the Belgian in JanuaryCredit: Getty More

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    ‘I loved playing there’ – Valencia star Yunus Musah open to Arsenal transfer return after breakthrough season in LaLiga

    VALENCIA star Yunus Musah has refused to rule out a sensational move back to Arsenal. The 19-year-old is enjoying another fantastic season in LaLiga having featured nine times for the Spanish giants this campaign.
    Yunus Musah has impressed for Valencia this seasonCredit: Alamy
    Musah was in the Gunners’ youth ranks for seven years but decided to make the move to Valencia back in 2019.
    The USA midfielder has expressed his openness to move back to North London while insisting he remains happy working under manager Gennaro Gattuso.
    Musah was asked by CBS Sports if he would one day go back to Arsenal to which he responded: “You never know.
    “I had a great time at Arsenal developing there, I still have friends there, the coaches were great, being an Arsenal player in general is great.
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    “I loved playing for Arsenal. I’ve nothing against the club and if one day it turns out to be that it’s time to go back then it’s possible.
    “For now I’m really happy at Valencia and I’m looking forward to carrying this season on in the same way we’re doing now.”
    Musah reportedly has an £87million release clause in his contract and his deal runs until 2026.
    Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is supposedly keen on signing a central midfielder to bolster his squad as they challenge for the Premier League title.
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    Musah has been linked with the likes of Liverpool and Juventus too.
    And he will have the chance to impress on the global stage as he aims to be part of the USA squad heading to the World Cup.
    Despite his young age the starlet has already been capped 19 times on the international stage and could feature versus England. More

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    Chelsea are still on a different level to Arsenal… Gunners have achieved NOTHING yet, says Blues legend Joe Cole

    ARSENAL may be getting grand ideas of what they can do under Mikel Arteta this season, but Chelsea great Joe Cole has told the Gunners they’re still in the Blues’ shadow ahead of tomorrow’s derby.Cole offered a reminder of what Chelsea have managed to do while Arsenal were floundering over the past decade or so.
    Arsenal are flying high at the top of the Premier League tableCredit: GETTY
    But they face one of their toughest tests yet against ChelseaCredit: Getty
    And Chelsea legend Joe Cole says the Gunners have a long way to go to usurp their London rivalsCredit: PA:Empics Sport
    Since Arsenal last won the title in 2004, the west Londoners have won 19 major trophies, including five Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues.
    The Blues are rebuilding under new owner Todd Boehly and manager Graham Potter, while Arsenal are riding high at the top of the Premier League.
    But despite Arteta’s recent success, Cole is confident the Blues will be back on top in no time.
    He told SunSport: “We have to be very mindful of what’s happening at Arsenal because nothing has paid off as of yet.

    “Arsenal have set high standards for themselves.
    “I do like what they’re doing. I enjoy watching Arsenal play, which I haven’t said for a long time. I like Mikel Arteta and what he does, how he sets up the team and I like the young players.
    “Nothing significant has been achieved at Arsenal as of yet with their high standards, but they’re on the right path.
    “Chelsea have battled at a different level over the last 20 years. We have to say that.
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    “Chelsea are the most successful team in the country over the last 20 years.
    “I still feel Chelsea can more than compete and go above Arsenal very soon.”
    Chelsea may be looking at getting one over Arsenal this weekend, but the long-term target for Boehly and the rest of the ownership group is to overhaul the Manchester City juggernaut.
    The American’s plan for doing so is to move away from Roman Abramovich’s hire and fire model and plan for the long term.
    Boehly quickly moved to sack Thomas Tuchel when it became clear they did not share the same ideas about reaching the top – and promised Potter he would get the time he needed when leaving Brighton for Stamford Bridge.
    Abramovich’s model may have delivered unprecedented success, but Boehly wants to carefully plot his way to the top and has also overhauled the club behind the scenes with the same idea in mind.
    And while Cole played for and worked at Chelsea as a coach during Abramovich’s era, he is encouraged by the change in approach.
    The ex-England international said: “I like it, I think it’s very smart from the new owners.
    “Because what’s happened is, I have to take my hat off to Man City, I believe they’ll win the league this year.
    “I think that’s five league titles out of six, that’s getting into an era of domination we never thought we’d see in the Premier League because of the levels of competition. But they’ve made so many smart decisions.
    “Chelsea have stepped back and looked at the situation, thinking it is going to need to be a long-term project, taking the right steps along the way to match Man City off the pitch and on it.
    Joe Cole is encouraged by Todd Boehly’s approach at Stamford BridgeCredit: Alamy
    “Everything has to be done with such precision, Man City are a well-oiled machine at the moment. You have got to respect that.
    “Chelsea are in a position of respecting what they have done, but the competitive nature is that we want to be back on top of the tree in English football.
    “It has to be a long-term project, there have to be foundations and I think it is a smart move.”
    Planning for the long term is all well and good but Chelsea fans will still want results in games like a London derby against the Gunners, and losing both Reece James and Ben Chilwell is a huge blow to Potter.
    James suffered a knee injury in Milan last month while, in a dead rubber against Dinamo Zagreb this week Chilwell suffered a hamstring injury that has ended his hopes of playing at the World Cup.
    But Cole has defended Potter’s decision to play Chilwell against the Croatian side.
    Cole said: “I’ve seen that argument, and I don’t like it.
    “When you play at the level Chelsea play at it is very easy to criticise the manager picking a player at any time.
    “There is so much in-depth behind the scenes, we don’t know what the situation was.
    “He could have benefited from the game.” Regardless of that decision, it is a huge loss to Chelsea and England.
    He added: “The best football Chelsea have played over the last 18 months is Chilwell and James are at wing-back, flying and giving real penetration.
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    “Chilwell against [Luke] Shaw would have been great competition for the left back spot [for England].
    “It’s unfortunate. You want to see the best players at the World Cup, I feel for Ben and for Gareth [Southgate].” More

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    Barcelona and Juventus enter transfer race for Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha to rival Chelsea and Arsenal

    BARCELONA and Juventus have reportedly joined the race to sign Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha.The Ivory Coast ace, 29, is out of contract next summer.
    Barcelona and Juventus are keen on signing Wilfried ZahaCredit: Reuters
    Chelsea and Arsenal are both interested in a free transfer swoop.
    But foreign clubs have the advantage over Palace’s domestic rivals.
    That’s because they can open contract talks with Zaha as early as January.
    And the Standard claims Barcelona and Juventus are now considering swoops in the new year.
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    The cash-strapped duo are on the hunt for football’s hottest free agents.
    And experienced forward Zaha ticks all the right boxes after netting five goals in 11 games this term.
    He is keen to prove himself at a top club after flopping with Manchester United.
    And Palace’s hopes of tying Zaha down to a new deal are quickly fading.
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    The Eagles are prepared to make their star man the club’s best-paid player in history.
    Zaha already earns £130,000-a-week at Selhurst Park.
    But that figure would rise significantly should he commit to Patrick Vieira’s side.
    The Palace boss is certainly determined to keep hold of Zaha.
    Vieira said: “Wilfried knows what the club think about him, and we know what he thinks about the club.
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    “There will be discussions taking place, but for myself and for the club what’s important is for him to play at this level and be consistent.
    “We will see what will happen. If he has a good day, the team will have a good day. He’s an important player on and off the field.” More

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    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta CONFIRMS January transfer spending spree to keep up Premier League title charge

    ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta insisted the club will “look at everything” in the January transfer window to keep up their Premier League title charge.The Gunners spent just under £120million in the summer window on five new faces.
    Arteta says the club are on the search for playersCredit: AFP
    Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos all arrived at the Emirates and Arsenal have reaped the rewards.
    Arteta’s men are currently sat top of the Premier League, two points above defending champions Manchester City, and the Gunners topped their Europa League group.
    However, Arteta is keen to keep up momentum and continue to push for the Prem title until the very end.
    And he will “look at everything” to bring the right players into the club mid-season.
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    However, Arteta also admitted January is a notoriously hard window to buy in.
    He said: “The planning of that period is extremely difficult.
    “First of all because we know the January window, how special it is, the opportunities that you have, the short window that you have.
    “And obviously with the position that we are in right now as well, it demands as well another level of player – and that player has to be available.
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    “We will look at everything and let’s see what we can do.”
    SunSport exclusively reported Arteta would be backed in January to the tune of £50m.
    Arteta wants to add at least two more players to his squad.
    One of the key areas the Spaniard is hoping to strengthen is in midfield.
    Plans to make another bid for Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz have been scrapped after he recently signed a new long-term contract.
    Now Arsenal could revive their interest in another Brazilian midfielder, the 21-year-old Palmeiras star Danilo.
    The Express are reporting Mykhaylo Mudryk is another name of interest to the Gunners.
    Shakhtar Donetsk goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin claims his club team-mates are already mocking Mudryk over a potential transfer.
    Trubin said: “I like that he is focused only on himself, his and the team’s game.
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    “All these transfer rumours affect him only in a positive way, because he enjoys what he does.
    “And, in the team, we can tell him; ‘well, you’re already at Arsenal, let’s all go!’” More

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    Arsenal have ALREADY signed £87million wonderkid Mudryk, claims Shakhtar Donetsk team-mate

    ARSENAL have already signed Shakhtar Donetsk wonderkid Mykhailo Mudryk, according to his own teammate. The highly-rated star has long been linked with a move to an Emirates and his value continues to grow.
    Mudryk is enjoying an outstanding season so far in UkraineCredit: Reuters
    The 21-year-old winger has been flying in both the Champions League and his own domestic league and some of his teammates have already concluded he is off.
    While no deal has officially been done, Shakhtar goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin has said the dressing-room has already concluded he is off.
    He told FPL360: “I like that he is focused only on himself, his and the team’s game. Fans don’t really see that much. No one sees what he is doing away from the football field.
    “All these transfer rumours affect him only in a positive way, because he enjoys what he does. 
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    “And, in the team, we can tell him; ‘well, you’re already at Arsenal, let’s all go!”
    The Gunners have been edging closer to Mudryk for months but have been warned they will have to cough up at least £85million to land him.

    And Shakhtar director Carlo Nicolini has made clear that Mikel Arteta has a fight on his hands to prize the star away from Ukraine.
    He told Calciomercato: “Together with Kylian Mbappe, Rafa Leao and Vinicius Jr, Mudryk is the strongest player in his role.
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    “Is £35m enough to buy him? We don’t speak for these figures, not even for £45m, we don’t even call the president to make the offer.
    “We value Mudryk more than [Manchester] United’s Antony – £85m. Floating between Arsenal and Man City? They are two teams that have taken an interest in the player.”
    Mudryk is enjoying a stunning season so far and can boast three Champions League goals in the six group games.
    But it was not enough to rescue Shakhtar’s European dreams as they fell to defeat against RB Leipzig and tumbled into the Europa League last night.
    In the Ukrainian Premier League, Mudryk has recorded four goals and give assists in seven games. More

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    ‘Just get a pen’ – Gabriel Martinelli hands Arsenal HUGE contract boost with striker ready to snub transfer interest

    GABRIEL MARTINELLI insists he “just needs to get a pen” to sign a new Arsenal contract – despite interest from Real Madrid and Chelsea.The Brazil winger is in talks over taking his current deal beyond 2024 and is “very happy” with the Premier League leaders.
    Brazilian star Gabriel Martinelli hopes to add to his three caps at the World CupCredit: Getty
    Martinelli insists he’d love to stay at the EmiratesCredit: Getty
    The Gunners want to build Mikel Arteta’s exciting team around starlets like Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, who are both 21.
    And they are confident both will agree huge new long-term contracts.
    Arsenal already have the option to extend Martinelli’s deal for two more years until 2026.
    But with Martinelli’s form attracting the attention of huge teams around Europe, they want to tie him down for good.
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    And he said: “I am very happy at Arsenal. I’ve said it many times.
    “This is my club. I love to be here, I love the city, I love the club. 
    “I love everything about Arsenal so I want to stay. I just need to get a pen.”
    The Gunners are likely to be much changed for Thursday night’s Europa League group finale at home to Zurich.
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    But they will still expect to confirm top place with victory over the bottom-placed Swiss side.
    Martinelli is keen to play as much as possible in all competitions – particularly as he, like his Arsenal team-mates is anxious to seal a place at Qatar.
    He said: “We talk about it a lot. Of course all of us want to be there in the squad and to play at the World Cup. 
    “All we can do is work hard here at Arsenal and try our best to be on the list.” More

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    Arsenal star urged to quit the club by former Prem ace Brad Friedel who says he’s ‘too good to be on the bench’

    MATT TURNER should consider leaving Arsenal as he’s too good for the bench, according to former Spurs keeper Brad Friedel.American stopper Turner has impressed in the Europa League but Aaron Ramsdale remains the Gunners’ No1 in the Prem.
    Matt Turner deserves better than being Arsenal’s second-choice keeper, according to fellow American Brad FriedelCredit: Getty
    Friedel hopes Turner gets the chance to prove himself in the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
    Now Friedel hopes Arsenal are prepared to let his countryman leave, at least on loan, just months after signing from MLS side New England Revolution.
    Turner is competing for the USA first-choice spot at the World Cup with Manchester City’s Zach Steffen, who is on loan with Championship side Middlesbrough this season.
    And lack of game time might count against Turner, 28.
    Friedel won 82 US caps and played a record 310 consecutive Prem games – so few players appear more qualified to talk about Turner’s position.
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    The former Liverpool and Aston Villa stopper, 51, accepts there’s no way Turner could have rejected the Gunners in the summer.
    But he told Fair Betting Sites: “Time will tell if it’s the right decision.
    “When you’re in the MLS, this is what I’ll say – it’s hard to turn down a club like Arsenal coming in for you.
    “But when you move and you’re as good as Matt Turner, I’d like to think that you would move and you’re being told that you were gonna be the number one which obviously wasn’t the case at Arsenal.
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    “Matt’s a heck of a nice guy and a heck of a good goalkeeper. I personally think he’s too good of a goalkeeper to be sitting on the bench.
    “I don’t know what kind of deal they have with Arsenal or what, but I hope if he’s not in the team, or doesn’t look like he’s gonna get near the team, then they would allow him to leave or go on loan.”
    Ironically, Ramsdale is likely to be on the bench when Turner’s USA team take on England in their group clash in Qatar.
    Everton hero Jordan Pickford seems to have the No1 spot for Gareth Southgate’s three Lions nailed on ahead of Ramsdale and Nick Pope. More