ARSENAL target Mohammed Kudus reportedly prefers a move to the Gunners as opposed to Chelsea.
In other news, AC Milan and Inter Milan are both keen on signing Folarin Balogun.
Elsewhere, Premier League rivals Crystal Palace are plotting a £34million move for Eddie Nketiah, according to reports.
- By Henry Tomlinson
'Arsenal should give Olise chance'
Dwight Yorke has suggested that Arsenal should look to sign Michael Olise as he could go on to be as good as the likes of Kevin De Bruyne.
He told OLBG: "Michael Olise is a young player and looks like he has decent potential.
"He's put himself in the shop window and now someone needs to take a chance on him, whether that's Chelsea, Man City or Arsenal, someone needs to give him that opportunity.
"Part of your job as a manager is to try and predict how good a player will become, and if Olise is being recognised by managers like Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta and Mauricio Pochettino, then you'd think he has a good chance of becoming a very good player.
Olise has impressed since joining Crystal PalaceCredit: Getty "You look at Kevin De Bruyne, he had the potential when he signed for Chelsea and Jose Mourinho saw that, but he was not given a chance and now he's one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history at Man City.
"It goes to show that you can't always judge a player right, but Olise is one of those that these big clubs should take a chance on."
- By Henry Tomlinson
Arteta looks to free up budget for more buys
Arsenal are tipped to prioritise offloading players before adding to their £200million triple capture.
Boss Mikel Arteta might come in for another midfielder after recruiting Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice and Kai Havertz.
But first the Gunners are expected to try to settle the future of players like wantaway striker Folarin Balogun.
- By Henry Tomlinson
Ajax confirm interest in Kudus
Ajax sporting director Sven Mislintat has revealed that there is interest in Arsenal target Mohammed Kudus.
He told Aglemeen Dagblad: "There are clubs that have informally enquired about him
"I don’t expect an offer very soon, although you know that things can be different in the football world. Perhaps the interest in not as serious as everyone thinks.
"There is no fixed deadline, but there are agreements we must have to get replacements if we have not already done so proactively.
"Their stay or sale also depends on what we will do next. The best thing for is if Kudus and [Edson] Alvarez stay, then we keep two top players. But it is also possible that one goes, or both.
"It is important for us that the relationship with the players remains good. This can be done by being transparent and applying good principles. As we get closer to the deadline, the transfer fee, for example, goes up."
- By Henry Tomlinson
Milan duo 'want Balogun'
Folarin Balogun is reportedly wanted by both AC Milan and Inter Milan.
The Arsenal striker is valued at £50million but the Independent has claimed that the asking price could drop.
The Milan sides are both in the market for a new striker this summer with Balogun on their lists.
He has also been linked with moves to AS Monaco and RB Leipzig.
Credit: Reuters - By Henry Tomlinson
Bitello 'not close to Arsenal move'
Arsenal transfer target Bitello is reportedly not close to a move to the club, according to Fabrizio Romano.
He told CaughtOffside: “I’m aware there have been reports claiming a deal is close for Arsenal to sign Bitello from Gremio this week.
“But I’m not sure things are as advanced as others have suggested.”
- By Henry Tomlinson
Havertz as 'physical as Xhaka'
Mikel Arteta has insisted that Kai Havertz can be just as physical as former star Granit Xhaka.
He said: “If I put Xhaka and Havertz together, who is the more physical?
“Havertz is one metre 91, he can run in behind, run forward, tackle and defend. For sure he will fit in with the qualities we have and the good thing is that we have plenty of options in midfield.
”We have the capacity to be very, very physical when we want to be, don’t worry about that.”
- By Henry Tomlinson
Happy birthday Emile!
Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe has turned 23 today.
- By Henry Tomlinson
More from Havertz
The German forward has also admitted that he wants to be part of the goalscoring this season and is keen to use his height to his advantage.
He said: "Scoring goals is part of my game and it’s important for my position to use my height to get in at the back post.
"Hopefully that works more times in the League.
"It’s been a long and positive couple of weeks for us.
"Obviously we didn’t win the game against Manchester United but beating Barcelona gives us another boost and now we are heading home to prepare for the start of the season."
Credit: Alamy - By Henry Tomlinson
Havertz settling in
Kai Havertz has revealed that he is enjoying his time at Arsenal so far and that he is more suited to the club than when he was at Chelsea.
He said: “I am really comfortable in this position. I am more on the ball and more integrated in the game.
“I am still adapting and I think I have a lot of room to improve but so far it’s working quite well.
“Obviously it’s a completely different style to how I played at Chelsea, but I think it’s a style that suits me very well.
“Of course it is going to take some time for me to get used to playing in midfield again, but I have only been here for two and a half weeks and I’m giving everything to try to perform at a high level.
- By Henry Tomlinson
Arsenal behind in Kudus race
Arsenal are behind Chelsea in the race to sign Ajax star Mohammed Kudus.
The £40million-rated attacking midfielder has been linked to Arsenal as well as the Blues, Manchester United and Brighton.
However, Mauricio Pochettino's side are the current favourites to sign him, though, according to The Independent.
The report states that the Blues have presented a more convincing package than Arsenal.
Credit: Getty - By Henry Tomlinson
Caicedo move seen as unlikely
Former Arsenal defender Mikaël Silvestre has argued that Moises Caicedo could play alongside Declan Rice but admitted a £100million move to the club is unlikley.
He told GGRecon: “I believe Declan and Moisés could play together, but the thing at the moment is that Arsenal already have Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey on their books.
"Elneny will be fit again soon and Partey is being linked with a move away from the club, but ultimately you need to fill every position with two players. It’s not rocket science, if one player moves then another player will have to come in and replace them.
"The main issue is that Caicedo’s price tag could be too much for Arsenal considering how much they’ve already spent in this summer’s transfer window.
"You can’t spend too much in one window as you need to consider Financial Fair Play, so Arsenal spending around £100m on Moisés Caicedo is unlikely to happen in my opinion."
- By Mark Irwin
Havertz insists he's 'comfortable' in midfield role
New boy Kai Havertz is confident he can adapt to the deeper role given him by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
The ex-Chelsea attacker said: “I am really comfortable in this position. I am more on the ball and more integrated in the game.
“I am still adapting and I think I have a lot of room to improve but so far it’s working quite well.
“Obviously it’s a completely different style to how I played at Chelsea, but I think it’s a style that suits me very well.
“Of course it is going to take some time for me to get used to playing in midfield again, but I have only been here for two and a half weeks and I’m giving everything to try to perform at a high level.
“Everyone has to earn their place in the team and you do that by giving everything in every training session and every game.
“When you play for a big club like Arsenal, there is always going to be competition for places. I am going to give 100 percent to be selected and I’m really enjoying it.
“The team is amazing and it definitely feels like home already. They have made it easy for me to integrate into the team and it’s fun to be with them.
“They are all so young and hungry and this is exactly what I wanted. I am very happy to be here.”
- By Mark Irwin
Kai vows to take responsibility
Kai Havertz has assured anxious Arsenal fans that he can handle his responsibilities in Mikel Arteta’s midfield.
The German international has hit the ground running following his surprise £65million summer switch from Chelsea.
Credit: Alamy But many supporters are still questioning whether he has the physical power to replace Granit Xhaka in the heat of the midfield battle.
Havertz, 24, was used primarily as an attacking player either out wide or as a supporting striker during his four years at Chelsea, famously scoring the winning goal against Manchester City in the 2021 Champions League final.
But he actually made his name as a midfield player at Bayer Leverkusen, where he was regularly compared to German legends Michael Ballack and Toni Kroos.
And now he is turning back time as he relishes his extra involvement in an Arsenal shirt.
- By Ian Tuckey
Zinchenko 'back soon'
Mikel Arteta has offered an update on Oleksandr Zinchenko’s injury.
The Ukrainian has missed Arsenal’s pre-season tour of America, with his understudy Kieran Tierney starting at left-back during Arsenal’s matches.
Arteta says he is looking forward to welcoming Zinchenko back soon.
He said: “Alex had a little muscular issue unfortunately. I think he will be back soon but it’s a shame he hasn’t been with us the whole tour.”
- By Ian Tuckey
Rob's mystery message
Arsenal star Rob Holding has posted a cryptic Instagram after being brutally trolled for his performance against Barcelona yesterday.
Arsenal impressed as they beat the Catalan club 5-3 with Barca manager Xavi saying the Gunners’ intensity “was like a Champions League game”.
But Holding made a costly error in the lead up to Ferran Torres’ goal for Barcelona.
The defender slipped on the ball which allowed Barcelona to pull the game back to 4-3.
Holding clearly saw the messages of fans that want him to leave the club and posted a black screen on his story with the caption “Nice one.”
Arsenal turned down a £2million bid from Besiktas for the defender earlier this window.
- By Ian Tuckey
Eagles line up £34m Nketiah bid
Crystal Palace are reportedly plotting a £34million move for Eddie Nketiah, according to reports.
The former England U-21 striker is growing increasingly frustrated with his Arsenal bench role behind Gabriel Jesus.
And Palace may offer him a way out if they can meet the Gunners' asking price.
Mikel Arteta has hinted that Arsenal will now need to sell before buying in the market so a move for Nketiah could be a way of raising funds.
The Gunners boss may move to promote Folarin Balogun to the role of backup striker after he impressed last season on loan at Reims – should Nketiah leave the club.
- By Ian Tuckey
Thomas stays – so no Romeo bid
Arsenal are tipped to bow out of the race for Romeo Lavia – the Southampton midfielder also linked to Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano says the Gunners are “not active” in the hunt for the Southampton star because Thomas Partey is now expected to stay.
Credit: Getty One-cap Belgian Lavia, 19, is one of the hottest properties in England following the Saints’ relegation.
But Romano reckons Emirates chief Mikel Arteta is now “happy” with Partey.
It’s claimed no club has come close to matching Arsenal’s £35milion-plus valuation of the 30-year-old Ghanaian.
- By Ian Tuckey
Lokonga 'offered to Roma'
Arsenal have reportedly offered Burnley target Albert Sambi Lokonga to other clubs, including Roma.
The one-cap Belgian is way down the list of midfield options for Gunners' boss Mikel Arteta, especially following a disappointing loan spell with Crystal Palace last season.
Credit: Getty And his fortunes have been further dented by injury on Arsenal's current pre-season tour.
Now Gazzetta dello Sport via Sport Witness say the Gunners have let it be known to certain other teams he's available.
Burnley – managed by Belgium legend Vincent Kompany – have been slow to develop their interest in Lokonga.
But i's also thought ex-Palace chief Patrick Vieira might be interested in bringing him to Strasbourg.
- By Ian Tuckey
Kudus 'prefers Arsenal to Chelsea'
Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus would rather join Arsenal than Chelsea, it's reported tonight.
Football Transfers say the attack-mined Ghana star, 22, is keen to stay in the Champions League.
That immediately gives the Gunners a huge advantage after Chelsea missed out on Europe due to their miserable mid-table finish.
Kudus appeared close to a summer move when he was withdrawn from pre-season training.
But Ajax are now increasingly confident of keeping the star creator.
- By Ian Tuckey
I'll stay at Barca Ferr now
Barcelona winger Ferran Torres insists he wants to stay and fight for his place.
Arsenal and Newcastle have been linked with the 35-cap Spaniard, 23.
Credit: AP But Torres told Spanish news outlet Sport after the Gunners beat Barca 5-3 in a friendly: “It’s very important for a striker to start scoring, to get off to a good start.
“I’m going to fight for a place in the team. And then it is up to the coach to decide (my future).
“The names (linked with moves away) are provided by journalists. I have a contract here. I’m going to stay. I don’t care what anyone says about me. I’m going to work as hard as anyone else.
“I’m the first to be self-critical, it wasn’t a good season last year but I learned a lot. These ups and downs have helped me to be stronger now.”
- By Ian Tuckey
Milan rivals lead Balogun race
Inter and AC Milan are now regarded as clear frontrunners for Folarin Balogun.
The Arsenal striker is a wanted man across Europe, especially in Serie A and the Premier League, after his astonishing loan form with Reims last season.
And tonight it's claimed the two San Siro rivals lead teams like West Ham and Napoli in the hunt for the 22-year-old.
Balogun insists he is not interested in another temporary exit.
- By Ian Tuckey
Mikel prepared for squad changes
Speaking after yesterday’s 5-3 win over Barcelona, Mikel Arteta said he is open to new additions to the squad.
Speaking to Football London, Arteta said: “We have 30 players here which is unsustainable.
“But of course, the market is still open and things can happen”
“We are ready, we are prepared” Arteta then added.
- By Ian Tuckey
Mikel insists Tierney still in his plans
Mikel Arteta has attempted to shut out talk of Kieran Tierney joining Newcastle or Celtic by insisting: "he is in our plans."
Scotland star Tierney has made no public suggestion he wants to leave, despite Oleksandr Zinchenko being clear first-choice for the left-back role.
And although the Gunners would be happy to offload more squad members following their £200million three-player spree, boss Arteta has been impressed with Tierney's attitude and form.
The Spaniard said: "Every time he’s played in pre-season, he’s been really good.
"We want to create competition in the team, raise the level of each individual, and that’s going to be a huge benefit for the team to get to another level.”
- By Tony Robertson
£80m Moises bid turned down
Chelsea have reportedly suffered a big blow in their pursuit of ex-Arsenal target Moises Caicedo after Brighton REJECTED their latest offer.
The Blues are said to have offered £80million to try and seal the deal.
However, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Brighton immediately rejected the bid.
The Seagulls are holding out on their £100m valuation of the midfielder.
Chelsea's latest offer is an improvement of £10m from their last offer.
Caicedo, 21, appeared to smirk when asked by fans about a Chelsea move while signing autographs during Brighton's pre-season.
- By Ian Tuckey
String of clubs eye Folarin
Arsenal have set a £50million price tag on 22-year-old striker Folarin Balogun.
Balogun impressed last season while on loan at Ligue 1 side Reims on loan.
The Arsenal academy product scored 22 goals and assisted three times during his time in France.
AC and Inter Milan have both shown an interest in signing the striker, with West Ham and Brighton also considering an offer.
The US international faces fierce competition for places at the Gunners – with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah ahead of him in the pecking order.
Source: Read Full Article