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
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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:
IS PSG INTEREST IN AOUAR A SMOKESCREEN?
PSG’s President, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, secretly met Lyon president, Jean-Michel Aulas, in Paris earlier this week to discuss a move for Houssem Aouar.
L’Equipe are reporting that Thomas Tuchels’ side have incurred a loss of €100m due to the coronavirus crisis, which is why they cannot outright purchase Aouar in this window.
The report says it’s possible the two clubs could agree a deal for a transfer in 2021 at a price that’s determined in advance.
Or another option would be to take him on a loan deal with a mandatory purchase option to be exercised after this season though this option is ‘less possible’.
Could all this talk just simply be a tactic to force Arsenal into raising their next offer for the midfielder? Possibly.
L’Equipe say that 'Arsenal are still holding the rope in this complex issue’, but need to be more generous with an offer closer to the €40m asking price.
THREE DEALS CLOSE FOR GUNNERS
With three days to go until the end of the transfer window, Arsenal still have a few deals up in the air.
Fabrizio Romano say that the club continue their pursuit of Houssem Aouar whilst trying to get moves for Lucas Torreira and Sead Kolasinac over the line.
GUENDOUZI LOAN STILL ON
French media outlet Telefoot is reporting that Arsenal are in still talks to send Matteo Guendouzi on loan to Ligue 1 side Marseille.
The Gunners have been attempting to offload the controversial French midfielder all summer without much luck so far but they’re hoping to get the deal done before transfer deadline day on Monday
Telefoot go on to add that Arsenal are likely to push hard to get a deal for Houssem Aouar, over the line before the deadline on 5 October.
The Gunners have already failed with a £32m bid for the Lyon playmaker but Arsenal are prepared to increase their offer after PSG increased their interest in Aouar.
FLORES LONG TERM DEAL ARRANGED
16-year-old teenager Marcelo Flores is set to sign a five year deal with the Premier League club according to his father Ruben.
The teenager has been training with Arsenal’s first-team squad after joining the club from Ipswich a year ago.
“He has a contract for the next two years to play in the U18, but I already have an agreement in which he will sign a professional contract for the next five years with Arsenal,” Flores’ father told Milenio, as per Sport Witness.
“Due to UEFA and FIFA rules it cannot be done until 1st of October this year, which is when he turns 17, but we already have an agreement and an arrangement and surely on 1st of October the news will come out that a Mexican signed a professional contract with Arsenal for so many years.
“Now nothing has been said because it will be done when he turns 17 when the presentation can be made, but we are already arranged.”
ARTETA TALKS MARTINEZ
One of Arsenal’s big moves in the transfer window was the sale of goalkeeper Emi Martinez to Aston Villa.
Many people believed that Martinez was good enough to take Bernd Leno’s place as Arsenal’s number one goalkeeper and it was a surprise when he was sold.
Following Arsenal penalty shootout win over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup last night, where Leno save two penalties, Mikel Arteta opened up about the sale. He said:
“We had two fantastic goalkeepers and they were both performing really well. Bernd [Leno], before he had the injury, and then Emi [Martinez]when he came in.
“But we had to make a decision and I think it was a moment when Emi needed the next step and financially it was a really interesting proposal for us. We need to manage the resources that we have to strengthen the team. I am really happy for Bernd and for his performance, the character that he’s shown tonight. It was really helpful to get us through to the next round,
"When Emi left, we were looking for a second goalkeeper. We were in the market and it took a little bit longer than expected to get that position filled in, so Alex [Runarsson] came in and has only been with us a week and had a small issue as well. Again, in time things will evolve and Alex will be more comfortable here and they will both play.”
ARSENAL FACE PSG BLOW
French media outlet L'Equipe, are reporting that PSG have prepared a bid for Lyon’s Houssem Aouar who Arsenal have been chasing all summer.
The report says that the Gunners have had two bids turned down for the influential midfielder. The most recent was said to be around £32 million, with PSG reportedly bidding something closer to the £46m asking price that Lyon are after.
Arsenal need to raise more funds before they can increase their bid, and to that end they're trying to move Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira and Sead Kolasinac, but it could be too little too late.
ESPN's Julien Laurens reports his sources say there has been no breakthrough in the discussions between Arsenal and Lyon regarding a deal for Aouar and that Mikel Arteta is now weighing a move for Chelsea midfielder Jorginho as a contingency plan.
Lyon had set the Gunners a deadline of Oct. 2, and their inability to return with a bigger offer has seen PSG take centre stage.
ARSENAL THINKING ABOUT SALIBA LOAN MOVE
Rennes have enquired with the Gunners about a possible loan move for William Saliba according to Oues-France.
Saliba spent last season on loan at Saint-Etienne before joining up with Arsenal in July.
Ouest-France report that Arsenal would be open to sending Saliba out on loan, while the defender could gain vital experience with Rennes as they have reached the Champions League group stage and are looking to build on last season’s third-place finish in Ligue 1.
Manager, Mikel Arteta, says that Saliba needs ‘a year of transition’ to help his development and another year in the French league may be just the thing. Arteta said:
"He had year last where Arsenal essentially loaned him to Saint-Etienne and that was a transition year for him,
"For many reasons, that wasn’t the transition year that he needed because he had a lot of injuries, he had some personal issues and obviously with COVID and the French league getting cancelled, he didn’t have that year, so he needs that year of transition.
“He needs that year of transition and we are trying to make the right decisions for him to make the best possible year of transition for him to have the player we want for our future.”
NAPOLI BID FOR ARSENAL TARGETED REJECTED
Napoli have seen a £25m offer rejected for Arsenal target Boubakary Soumare.
The loan with an option to buy at the aforementioned fee did not convince Lille, report Calciomercato.
The France U21 international is a potential cut-price alternative should Atletico Madrid stand firm on Thomas Partey and his £45m release clause.
“He (Soumare) can leave in the next few days,” Lille president Gerard Lopez said last week.
TORREIRA DEAL AGREED
Lucas Torreira appears set to be heading to Atletico Madrid on loan.
That’s according to AS, which could mean hope of landing Thomas Partey.
However, Atletico want to move on Hector Herrera, meaning Partey could stay even if the Gunners deal Torreira to Diego Simeone’s side.
Arsenal want €24m for the Uruguayan, which may have to be pushed back with an option or obligation to buy following a loan this season.
TORINO MADE FRESH TORREIRA APPROACH
Torino made a last-ditch effort to sign Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira, who looks set to join Atletico Madrid.
The Italian outfit were initially one of the early frontrunners to sign the Uruguyan, however the club couldn’t agree on a formula with Arsenal.
Torino wanted the player on a season loan, whereas Arsenal wanted the deal to become permanent next summer.
This deterred Torino, and this allowed Atletico to steal a march on Torreira.
Turin daily Tuttosport claims that Torino had in recent days made a fresh offer for Torreira, however the player had already decided to join the Spanish giants after speaking to boss Diego Simeone.
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