Category: Arsenal

Arsenal in final push to beat Manchester United in Declan Rice pursuit

June 8, 2023

In the race to secure the signature of West Ham United star Declan Rice, Arsenal is making a final push to beat Manchester United and emerge as the front-runners, reported by goal.com. The Gunners have identified the England international midfielder as their top target for the summer transfer window and are eager to swiftly conclude a deal. Aware of interest from rival clubs, including Manchester United and Bayern Munich, Arsenal aims to secure Declan Rice’s services promptly.

According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal is now working to finalize a substantial transfer worth £90 million ($112 million). The Gunners want to capitalize on Rice’s desire to take on a new challenge following his success in leading West Ham to glory in the Europa Conference League, which marked the club’s first major trophy win since 1980.

Rice reportedly prefers to continue playing in England rather than joining German giants Bayern Munich. Additionally, his settled life in London is expected to give Arsenal an advantage over Manchester United, who are also in the market for midfield reinforcements this summer.

While Arsenal is willing to make a significant financial commitment to secure Rice, West Ham has certain demands regarding the payment structure. The Hammers are said to be seeking the guaranteed portion of the transfer fee to be paid within 12 months, with the full asking price to be met within two years. West Ham values their captain at over £100 million ($125 million), but they might consider compromising if the funds can be delivered within a relatively short timeframe rather than over a long-term contract.

As the transfer saga unfolds, Arsenal remains determined to outmaneuver Manchester United and other competitors to secure the highly sought-after Declan Ric

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Arsenal star makes decision as PSG ready offer

June 4, 2023

Paris Saint-Germain are eyeing up a move for Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes.

According to GOAL, the Ligue 1 champions are willing to make a new offer for the Brazilian in the summer, having been interested in his services last year.

PSG sporting director Luis Campos is also said to be a fan of the player especially with Sergio Ramos departing the club. However, Magalhaes is happy in North London and intends on staying at the Emirates Stadium.

Magalhaes joined the Gunners from Ligue 1 side Lille in 2020 and has gone on to become a key player for Mikel Arteta’s side.

A fixture in the starting eleven, the 25-year-old played all 38 league games for Arsenal this season as the club finished second in the league — their highest league finish since 2016.

In addition, he played 48 games in all competitions which is the most he’s featured for the club since his arrival.

Gabriel’s performances early on in the season earned him new long-term contract running until 2027.

“I’m very happy to sign this new contract with Arsenal, because it’s such a big club,” Magalhaes said at the time. “It’s my dream and today is the best day of my life. I’m so happy to extend my contract here. Every game the supporters are pushing the team in the stadium. It’s why I’m so happy to stay here.

“Arsenal is my home. In the future, I want to win games for Arsenal, I want to win trophies with Arsenal and stay here for a long time because it’s my home.”

If PSG are to get Gabriel, they’ll not only have to convince the player; they’ll also have to pay a large transfer fee given his contract situation.

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RUMOR: Arsenal relaunch their interest in Brighton prospect

June 2, 2023

Arsenal have emerged as potential buyers for Brighton defender Moises Caicedo. The Gunners suffered a heartbreaking collapse in the final round of the Premier League season after an injury to their defender William Saliba. Now, they want to ensure they have a backup to the talented French defender.

According to the reports from ESPN, Arsenal are expected to receive competition from Chelsea for the signature of Caicedo. However, the Gunners’ return to the Champions League could prove fundamental in this transfer. Brighton secured Europa League football this season, whereas Chelsea are not in Europe.

It is reported that Arsenal were in the race to sign the 21-year-old in 2021. However, his evaluation of £70 million meant the move never materialized, and the defender secured a long-term contract extension at Brighton. With Saliba stalling on his potential new deal, Arsenal could allow the French defender to leave and secure Caicedo as his replacement. 

Alongside Caicedo, Arsenal have also been linked with a big-money move for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice. However, the fate of this transfer will be decided after the Europa Conference League final. The Hammers will take on Fiorentina in the ultimate match next week.

On the other hand, Chelsea are also interested in signing Caicedo. However, they understand they need to get some defenders off their wage bill before attracting new players. Thiago Silva recently celebrated his 40th birthday and has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia. Kalidou Koulibaly is surplus to requirements after a poor first season at Stamford Bridge.

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Arsenal shocked by the wage demands of star defender

June 1, 2023

Arsenal have been shocked by the wage demands of French defender William Saliba. The Frenchman has been one of the standout players for the Gunners this season, but it looks like the club will find it hard to keep hold of him.

According to the reports from Daily Mail, Saliba’s representatives are holding negotiations with Arsenal at the moment. However, both parties are far away from coming to a conclusion. Saliba currently has one year left on his deal with the Gunners, and there has been reported interest from Paris Saint Germain for the services of the French defender this summer. 

Saliba’s representatives began negotiating with Arsenal about a new contract before the 2022 World Cup. However, the parties are yet to come to a conclusion. It has been reported that Arsenal would like to treble the wages of the 22-year-old by £40,000-a-week wages. 

However, the Premier League runner-ups have been shell-shocked by the wage demands of Saliba’s representatives. It is claimed that they required nothing less than a £120,000 offer on the table.

Considering Saliba only has one year left on his deal, Arsenal may have a decision to make this summer. They cannot allow a player of the 22-year-old’s quality to walk away for free next summer. Hence, they could be tempted to part ways with him this summer with PSG lurking.

The Gunners have secured long-term extensions of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Magalhaes and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale as they aim to keep the spine of their wonderful 2022/23 Premier League season.

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Bayern ignite Rice race with £95m offer, Kane to Man Utd blocked – Paper Round

May 29, 2023

Bayern’s £95m Rice offer

Bayern Munich have thrown the race to sign Declan Rice this summer wide open after the Mirror reported the German champions are launching a £95m offer for the West Ham midfielder. Rice will be allowed to leave the Hammers if their asking price is met, and amid interest from Premier League clubs Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea, the England international is said to have spoke to Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel recently as he considers his options.

“Rice is expected to inform West Ham that his preference is to move to Arsenal this summer. The Gunners want Rice to replace Granit Xhaka, who looks set to join Bayer Leverkusen,” the Mirror writes.

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“However, Rice is believed to have held talks with Bayern boss Tuchel in recent days and the lure of joining one of Europe’s heavyweights could prove a tempting proposition. It is also unclear at this stage how much Arsenal are willing to pay to land Rice this summer.”

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Spurs to block Kane to Man Utd

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will not allow Harry Kane to leave for a Premier League rival this summer, the Mirror reports, a decision that hinders Manchester United’s hopes of signing the forward. Even though Kane is out of contract next summer, Levy is willing to take the risk – even if the England captain ends up leaving on a free in 12 months’ time.

“Tottenham will certainly not give up on keeping Kane beyond his current deal as they believe his loyalty plus also the incentive of closing in on the Premier League goals record – he is now just 47 behind Alan Shearer’s 260 – could persuade him to stay even longer,” the Mirror writes.

“Kane, who turns 30 in July, also knows that he could have the pick of his clubs next year as a free agent when, if he did decide to leave, he would also command a mega contract.”

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PSG sound out Odegaard

Paris Saint-Germain are interested in a shock move for Martin Odegaard, the Daily Mail reports. The Arsenal captain was central to their title challenge, scoring 15 times as the Gunners finished second behind Manchester City. And with Arsenal out to build on this improved campaign under Mikel Arteta they are reluctant to sell this summer, and also boast a transfer budget that would not require such big-same sales in the upcoming window.

“Odegaard is key to Mikel Arteta’s plans going forward and is also happy with life in London,” the Mail writes.

“Arsenal have a transfer budget of around £180m plus sales – but don’t want Odegaard to leave as they look to go one better than second place next season.”

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Fulham want Fred

Fulham are in the running to sign Fred from Manchester United this summer, the Daily Mail reports. Fulham boss Marco Silva waited to speak with Fred after their meeting at Old Trafford on the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday, and with United willing to listen to offers for the 30-year-old midfielder, a move to London could be in the offing for the Brazilian.

The Mail adds: “There are likely to be further departures from United this summer, with Anthony Martial, Harry Maguire, Eric Bailly, Brandon Williams and Alex Telles amongst those who could leave.

“Donny van de Beek and Anthony Elanga could also depart. Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe are out of contract and goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who has been on loan at Nottingham Forest, may depart permanently. There haven’t been any discussions about keeping Wout Weghorst once his loan from Burnley comes to an end and the same applies to Marcel Sabitzer, who is on loan from Bayern Munich.”

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Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez interested to return to the Gunners

May 29, 2023

Former Arsenal and Manchester United forward, Alexis Sanchez, is reportedly considering a return to the Premier League after just one season at Marseille. The 34-year-old Chilean is said to be attracting interest from his former club, Arsenal, who are keen on re-signing him, reported by goal.com.

Sanchez had a successful stint at Arsenal from 2014 to 2018, during which he won two FA Cups and a Community Shield. However, his form dipped after his move to Manchester United, where he struggled to replicate his previous performances. He was eventually loaned out to Inter Milan before making the move permanent.

In 2022, Sanchez joined Marseille on a two-year deal in Ligue 1. He made 42 appearances across all competitions for the French club this season, finding the back of the net 18 times. Despite his decent contributions, it appears that Sanchez is open to the idea of returning to the Premier League.

Arsenal, who missed out on the Premier League title this season, are looking to rebuild their squad and strengthen various positions. The addition of an experienced attacker like Sanchez could provide valuable depth and competition in the forward line.

It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will make a formal bid for Sanchez or if other Premier League clubs will enter the race for his signature. Given his previous success at Arsenal and the familiarity he has with the club, a reunion could be a possibility that excites both Sanchez and the Gunners.

As the summer transfer window approaches, fans will eagerly await further developments regarding Sanchez’s potential return to the Premier League and the impact it could have on Arsenal’s squad for the upcoming season.

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta drops truth bomb on the teams future

May 29, 2023

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has delivered a blunt message to his team, stating that they cannot afford to be complacent and must strive to be “much better” if they have any hopes of dethroning Manchester City in the upcoming season, reported by goal.com.

Despite leading the Premier League standings for several weeks during the current campaign, Arsenal eventually slipped away, allowing Manchester City to secure their third consecutive title under the guidance of Pep Guardiola. Nonetheless, Arteta believes that Arsenal’s second-place finish with 84 points is still an impressive accomplishment for his side. However, he is determined to achieve even greater success.

“Our main target was to bring the club back to the Champions League, and we have achieved that,” Arteta stated. “We didn’t expect to finish where we are. It’s the third best record in the history of the club, with the most wins ever. But it’s still not enough to win it. We understand the level we need to reach. If we want to be considered a top team, we cannot be content with our current position. We must be much better next season.”

Arsenal’s qualification for the Champions League marks their return to the prestigious tournament after a six-year absence. However, their last Premier League triumph dates back to 2004, and Arteta is well aware of the challenge that lies ahead. With Manchester City eyeing an unprecedented fourth consecutive league title, Arsenal will be among the favorites to challenge their dominance.

With Arteta’s determination and Arsenal’s return to the Champions League, there is renewed hope among fans that the club can compete at the highest level and end their Premier League title drought. The upcoming season promises to be an exciting one, as Arsenal sets their sights on toppling Manchester City’s dominance and reclaiming their place among the elite.

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Mac Allister and Caicedo likely to leave Brighton this summer – De Zerbi

May 28, 2023

Minutes after the conclusion of the most successful season in Brighton’s history, manager Roberto de Zerbi admitted that he expects to lose two of his biggest stars this summer.

Having achieved the historic double of securing European football for the first time in Brighton’s history, as well as a highest ever league finish, De Zerbi might have been expecting a moment to bask in his success.

Instead, as he faced the media for the final time this season, following the season-ending 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday, the Italian was asked about the futures of Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo.

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De Zerbi was blunt: “I think that can be the last game of Alexis and Moises, I’m really sorry.”

Argentinian World Cup winner Mac Allister has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool, while 21-year-old Ecuadorian midfielder Caicedo was the subject of reported bids from both Chelsea and Arsenal during the January transfer window.

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The Italian continued, leaving no room for doubt on his perspective: “We are ready. We have to find others big players to play without Alexis and Moises.”

While he was undoubtedly disappointed at the prospect of losing two key players for Brighton’s assault on the Europa League next season, he does not blame the club.

He explained: “The policy of Brighton is like this. I think it’s right they can leave, can change teams and play in a level higher. If you ask me about Caicedo and Mac Allister, I love them and they are two big, big players and can be in a big, big European team. They can play in every competition and are ready to compete for a big team and I hope for them they can play in the best team in the world.”

Effusive in his praise and cognisant of the situation into which he stepped when he agreed to become Brighton boss in September last year, De Zerbi chose to see the likely departure of the star duo as an opportunity.

He explained: “For Brighton we can still improve [without them] and we can bring in other good players with the transfer market.”

Playing the transfer market has been a key part of Brighton’s success since winning promotion to the Premier League in 2017.

Last summer, Marc Cucurella, Yves Bissouma, and Neal Maupay were first-team players sold to Premier League rivals, while Leandro Trossard and Shane Duffy made similar intra-league moves in January. Despite selling over £120M worth of players, Brighton enjoyed a spectacularly successful season.

Next season will bring new challenges for De Zerbi and Brighton, something that the Italian recognises.

He said: “Next year we will be playing in four competitions, the Premier League will be tougher for us for sure and we have to be stronger than this year. At the moment we are not ready to play three games per week, but we are not used to that.

“We will have to work in the transfer market and build a stronger squad with more players. The results we achieved were incredible, but we have the dream to improve these results.”

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Arsenal interested in this defender for $25million

May 28, 2023

Arsenal is set to bolster their defensive options by targeting Galatasaray‘s Sacha Boey in the upcoming summer transfer window, reported by goal.com. The Gunners are keen on securing the services of the 22-year-old right full-back as they look to strengthen their backline.

According to The Times, Galatasaray is likely to demand a transfer fee of £20 million ($25 million) for Boey, indicating the financial commitment required from Arsenal to secure the French defender’s signature. The Gunners have recognized the need for defensive reinforcements after facing setbacks due to injuries to key defenders such as William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu, which ultimately impacted their title challenge against Manchester City this season.

While Arsenal had also expressed interest in Manchester City‘s Joao Cancelo, who is currently on loan at Bayern Munich, they are expected to face stiff competition from Barcelona for the Portuguese defender. The Gunners’ pursuit of Boey demonstrates their determination to address their defensive shortcomings ahead of the new campaign.

In their final game of the season, Arsenal will shift their focus to facing Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday. The match provides an opportunity for Mikel Arteta’s side to end the season on a positive note before turning their attention to the transfer market and potential additions to the squad.

As the summer transfer window approaches, Arsenal’s pursuit of Sacha Boey highlights their intention to invest in defensive talent and reinforce their backline. The Gunners will aim to secure the services of the Galatasaray full-back to provide stability and solidity in their defensive setup for the upcoming season.

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Arsenal hoping to land another Brazilian prospect

May 28, 2023

Arsenal can be on the verge of signing highly rated Brazilian youngster Pedrinho in the summer. Speculation about the future of the 17-year-old left winger intensified due to his recent absence from Corinthians’ matches.

According to the reports from Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners are keeping an eye on Pedrinho’s performances this season. However, there are no ongoing negotiations. Further developments can be expected after the conclusion of the season. Arsenal’s sporting director, Edu, knows the market well and rates the 2006-born forward highly.

Arsenal already have an abundance of Brazilian talent in their first-team squad. They have Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli occupying the left-wing and striker positions at the club. Moreover, they have the defensive cover of Gabriel Magalhães. All three players have been fundamental to Arsenal’s evolution in this Premier League season.

Now, the Premier League runners-up hope they can add another Brazilian to their roster. The 17-year-old Pedrinho was expected to feature in the U-20 World Cup. However, the Corinthians refused to give him permission, which brought further speculation of his transfer rumors.

Former player Neto shared this rumor in the show Os Donos da Bola. He said that the sudden disappearance of the teenager could be because he is on course for a summer move to Arsenal.

“You have Pedro… Pedro, I don’t know what’s going on. If the kid is going to be sold to Arsenal… I don’t know, huh.” Neto said in the show. These remarks have left many Arsenal fans waiting for the upcoming transfer window. However, there are also reports that a move in the following January transfer window seems more likely.

Arsenal will play Wolverhampton in the final Premier League game of the season. They finished inside the top two of the Premier League for the first time since the 2015/16 campaign.

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