Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Mesut Ozil, Wilfried Zaha, Emiliano Buendia, Omar Rekik, Folarin Balogun latest
Mikel Arteta is exploring all options with the need to sell in order to bring in new signings
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Arsenal remain active in the January transfer window with Mikel Arteta moving closer to wielding the axe and prepared to sanction up to eight sales as he reshapes his squad to his liking at the Emirates.
That could mean the Gunners move on the likes of Shkodran Mustafi, Mohamed Elneny, Reiss Nelson, Callum Chambers, Folarin Balogun, Joe Willock, Mesut Ozil, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Sead Kolasinac, Konstantinos Mavropanos, and Lucas Torreira. While Granit Xhaka and Alexandre Lacazette could yet find themselves elsewhere come the summer. There have been better signs on the pitch ahead of the FA Cup this weekend though, following a 4-0 win at West Bromwich Albion, with Arteta’s side moving away from the bottom of the table and now up to 11th in the Premier League table. This month could yet prove crucial to where Arsenal finish under the Spaniard though, with European football required to maintain the momentum of his revolution in north London.
But their business over the course of the next few weeks could prove pivotal to their chances, with the winter window now wide open for teams to buy and sell. Arsenal completed numerous deals in the summer, including Willian, Gabriel and Dani Ceballos, while that trio was joined by Thomas Partey on deadline day. There could be exciting opportunities ahead with Edu’s relationship with Kia Joorabchian, while one of Arteta’s main priorities will be to shift Mesut Ozil, who remains frozen out at the Emirates.
A deal for Isco has been in the works with Real Madrid open to selling, but that deal could rely on the Gunners creating space in the squad and easing the burden on the club’s wage bill. Defender Sead Kolasinac has returned to Germany with a loan move to Schalke with many more including defenders Shkodran Mustafi and William Saliba and even Mesut Ozil possible departures before the deadline.
We will have all the latest Arsenal news, rumours and gossip - on both comings and goings - throughout the day.
FENERBAHCE CLOSE TO SOKRATIS DEAL
Arsenal defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos is on the verge of joining Fenerbahce, according to Fanatik.
The Greece international will reportedly meet with Arsenal to discuss the termination of his contract.
Serie A sides Genoa and Napoli are also believed to be interested in Sokratis, who could join up with fellow Arsenal castaway Mesut Ozil should he make the switch to Fenerbahce.
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce has questioned the morality of continuing the season amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Steve Bruce says it’s ‘morally wrong’ for football to continue
Newcastle suffered their own outbreak which forced the Premier League game with Aston Villa to be postponed
SALIBA HINTS AT NICE EXTENSION
William Saliba has suggested his stay at Nice could last longer than six months after joining on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season.
"I have signed a 6 month contract, after these 6 months we will see what happens," he said, quoted by GFFN. "But for now I have signed for 6 months, I am going to give my all, and then we will see.
"Nice was certainly my top choice. Because it is a good club that I have liked for a long time. It is a club that fights at the top of the table, that fights to be in European competition."
OZIL’S ARSENAL CAREER SHOULD NOT BE OVERSHADOWED BY DARK ENDING
There will be no last hurrah for Mesut Ozil, no shimmying strides or hypnotic passes to offer a reminder of what’s been lost. Few players at their peak have evoked football’s grace quite so vividly, but this tortured goodbye has long been deprived of its dignity.
How such a lavish talent has been allowed to wither on the sidelines will always be the subject of healthy debate and vociferous blame. But while those arguments persist, their sorry end has already been written. Whether it is Turkey or the US, next week or in the summer, Ozil’s bewitching dalliances are now relics of the modern game. For all the worship cultivated and accolades collected, this hollowing final passage at Arsenal will always taint one of the finest players of this generation.
Darkness of Mesut Ozil’s exit should not overshadow an illuminating career
Ozil’s demise is a tragedy with blame on all sides - but his brilliance will live far longer in memory
HOW MUCH WILL PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS SPEND IN JANUARY?
The Premier League's spending power will be under scrutiny once more in a January transfer window unlike any which has gone before.
Previous winter windows have seen a steady upward trend in the league's spending, albeit with a couple of eye-catching outliers.
January 2011, when £225million was spent including big-money moves in and out of Liverpool for strikers Andy Carroll and Fernando Torres, nestled in between figures of £30m in 2010 and £60m in 2012.
How much will Premier League clubs spend in January transfer window?
There is considerable uncertainty around spending this season with new rules due to Brexit and Covid-19 impacting clubs’ financial power
MACEY REVEALS ADVICE FROM TIERNEY AFTER HIBS MOVE
Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Macey has revealed the words of advice hhe received from Kieran Tierney before his move to Hibernian was confirmed.
The 26-year-old has signed an initial six-month contract with the Scottish side.
"I spoke to Kieran at length about the opportunity to come to Hibs, about Scottish football and the country in general," Macey told the Hibs website.
"Kieran was really positive about every aspect of it, whether it was the club or Edinburgh itself.
"As I said, I was already keen to come but it was good to hear him talk so enthusiastically about it all. He backed up the gut feeling I had. Kieran’s someone I have a lot of time for and he’s probably one of the first names on the team-sheet – if not the first – at Arsenal just now."
Mesut Ozil’s future remains uncertain, but all parties expect the matter to be resolved in the near future.
Fenerbahce break silence on rumours of signing Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil
The former Germany international has played no part this season for the Gunners
ARTETA ADMITS TRANSFER MARKET IS ‘COMPLICATED’
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has bemoaned the current state of the transfer market as he looks to improve his squad in the January window.
“At the moment, the market is really complicated,” Arteta said.
“The situation around every club is not easy and to get negotiations going is harder because you cannot be face-to-face, you cannot travel to another country to make a deal happen like that. Everything has to be through the phone or Zoom. It can go either way.
“I can tell you what I would like and that’s from day one to have the squad that I want and the players out and in, sorted. I think it’s really complicated right now.”
‘EVERYTHING IN PLACE’ FOR OZIL MOVE TO FENERBAHCE
Mesut Ozil will sign a contract with Fenerbahce on Saturday, according to Turkish outlet Sabah.
A 'special presentation' has reportedly been planned to mark the German's arrival.
Ozil has also been linked with MLS side DC United, but it appears Fenerbahce have won the race for his signature.
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