Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Houssem Aouar, Thomas Partey, Boubakary Soumare – plus Premier League latest
The Gunners appear to be making progress to boost Mikel Arteta’s squad before the deadline on Monday
Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter for the latest tips and offers
Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter
Arsenal have just three days to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad after defeating Liverpool again on the pitch to prove the progress taking place under the Spaniard. The summer transfer window shuts on 5 October, with the penalty shoot-out win further boosting morale at the club, but now the Gunners must strengthen after the champions exposed their limitations in the first of the two recent meetings between the sides.
Midfield is still seen as the key area to strengthen and the lengthy pursuits of Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey and Lyon’s Houssem Aouar are ongoing. Sales are needed to fund those moves however, and Lucas Torreira is seemingly on the verge of joining Atletico, while Matteo Guendouzi and Mesut Ozil are seen as expendable but lack suitors. A cheaper alternative midfield target for Arsenal is Boubakary Soumare, with Lille ready to sell imminently.
Elsewhere, Sead Kolasinac could be heading to Borussia Dortmund, while Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe could earn loan moves to further develop with increased game time not available at the Emirates. Premier League clubs are thought to be keen on the youngsters. And in defence, Shkodran Mustafi, Sokratis and Calum Chambers also appear to be available as the Gunners look to cut their squad down. Follow all the latest transfer news, rumours and done deals:
‘SALIBA AN OPTION’ FOR RENNES
Rennes boss Julien Stephan confirmed the French club are considering Saliba as a potential option in defence.
“William Saliba is an option,” he admitted. “He is an interesting player, he is coming out of an appealing season with Saint-Etienne, even if it seems more complicated with Arsenal.”
Despite only linking up with the Gunners squad this summer, Saliba is believed to be in talks with Rennes over a potential loan move.
The 19-year-old prospect was purchased last year for £27 million and immediately loaned back to Saint-Etienne for another season as part of the deal.
Mikel Arteta seems to be backing the move as he thinks it would help Saliba’s development. Arteta said: "The difficult year that the player had and the plan that we had for him, for the transition year, we could not achieve,
"We are looking at different options to try to have the best possible development for the player and to protect our intentions with William for the future.
“We want to both be aligned and make the best decision for now and for the future.”
TORREIRA SAYS HIS GOODBYES
Lucas Torreira has bid farewell to those at Arsenal’s Colney training base on and will travel to Madrid in the next 24 hours, according to Goal.
He is finalising his season-long loan move to the Spanish club and will travel to Madrid to undergo a medical.
Torreira could be the first in a number of exits from the Emirates with Sead Kolasinac, William Saliba and Sokratis Papastathopoulos all rumoured to be leaving.
ATLETICO MOVE ON FOR TORREIRA
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano says that a deal between Arsenal and Atleti has been confirmed and Lucas Torreira has a medical scheduled.
He added that a swap move for Thomas Partey is not part of the deal, even though Arsenal want the player, and that he fully expects Partey to remain at Atletico Madrid.
‘ARSENAL MAXIMISING RESOURCES'
Arsenal have the full support of the owners to bring in more signings before the deadline expires but the club are maximising theor resources say Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners manager is working on making the most out of his current squad but is hopeful that at least one more player will be signed.
He said:
"Then it's because we can't do more. We are trying our maximum, maximising our resources with full support from the owners for what we are trying to achieve.
"It's just whether we can do it or not. Believe me, we will try our best and we will be trying to give our players the best possible environment, the best possible coaching and have them believing that we can achieve what we want to do.
“And if it will be with one more player, two more players or two players less, we will keep doing the same.”
ARTETA FACES PEP IN EFL CUP
Mikel Arteta’s joy at defeating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup was cut short when the quarter-final draw revealed an upcoming clash with Pep Guardiola’s Man City.
But, is beating Pep’s Man City the same, difficult task is used to be?
Mikel Arteta bemoans drawing City in Carabao Cup but Pep Guardiola should be worried too
Arteta has transformed Arsenal into a team that can master the big occasions, as City discovered in last season’s FA Cup semi-finals
TORREIRA TO FLY TO MADRID
Outlet AS are claiming that Lucas Torreira is ready to make the move to Spain and will be flying out on Friday of ‘at the first hour’ on Saturday to complete his move to Atletico Madrid.
There’s a hurry for the player to have his medical and sign his contract as the Colchoneros want everything done before the international break.
Arsenal wanted €20m for the player, which could be paid now or next summer but AS say it is unlikely that the La Liga club could afford that amount and Torreira’s move is expected to be a season-long loan.
Atletico Madrid are still looking at moving on other midfielders, such as Thomas Partey or Hector Herrera, so they can have financial room on the wage bill for Torreira’s arrival.
ARTETA GIVES AN UPDATE ON OZIL’S FUTURE
Mesut Ozil has been a big, expensive thorn in Arsenal’s side. He’s not playing for the club and costing them £350,000 a week.
A move away from the Emirates doesn’t look likely so the only thing left for Mikel Arteta is to try and find a way to rehabilitate him back into the squad.
When asked about Ozil’s future he said:
"It's not that I hate the transfer window, I think it is completely necessary, it is a big part of our industry and I think a lot of people love art because of trading players, I am a fan as well.
"You want to see a player in your team, there is excitement, I have my kids playing all the time [on computer games] so it is part of the industry and you have to pay attention to it because it is really important.
"We have to manage first of all those expectations, they have to be realistic for us, and then with the players and the squad I have, it is my job to manage it as good as possible and take the maximum performance out of them and have a stable team, emotionally and in terms of performance as well.
“Whoever is here, get the best out of him and the contribution that this player can make to the team.”
NO MARSEILLE MOVE FOR MATTEO
French media outlet L’Equipe are reporting that Matteo Guendouzi is still looking for a way out of Arsenal before the end of the transfer window but he won’t be going to Marseille.
The Ligue 1 side had expressed an interest in bringing Guendouzi in on a loan deal but his interest in the club has cooled.
Foot Mercato report that Marseille recently contacted both Arsenal and Guendouzi’s representatives to try and agree a loan deal for the midfielder as they look to strengthen for their upcoming Champions League campaign.
Guendouzi already ignored interest from Villarreal, Hertha Berlin, Valencia and Real Betis, according to the same source.
FM claim he could be more open to an offer from France, but it looks like it’s not going to be to Marseille.
TIME RUNNING OUT FOR ARSENAL
The last three days of the transfer window could be a busy time for the Gunners as manager, Mikel Arteta, believes it is a ‘crucial moment’ for the club moving forward:
Arsenal entering ‘crucial moment’ in transfer window, admits Mikel Arteta
Manager said he feels fully supported by the club in his efforts to improve the squad
AOUAR DEAL HAS TO BE DONE TODAY
That is the view of Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas who has said no players will be allowed to leave Lyon after Friday.
Talks between Arsenal and Lyon are ongoing over a deal for Aouar with reports saying the clubs are as close as just £4 million to agreeing a price for the midfielder.
The transfer window doesn’t close until Monday but Aulas probably wants time to replace any player that leaves the club which is why he’s set the Friday deadline.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies