ARSENAL are reportedly set to bid for £100m-rated Declan Rice now that the Europa Conference League final is over.
Rice captained the Hammers to a win over Fiorentina last night but wasn’t drawn into speculation over his future after the game, with both Arsenal and Bayern Munich keen.
Meanwhile, The Gunners are also said to be in a battle with Chelsea to sign Wilfried Zaha on a free transfer this summer.
Meanwhile, Gunners target James Maddison has had a £40million price tag slapped on him by current club Leicester – but the Gunners will face stiff competition for his signature through Newcastle.
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Stay up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumours from the Emirates…
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Jorginho linked with exit
Arsenal star Jorginho has been linked with a move away from the Emirates.
The midfielder joined the Gunners from London rivals Chelsea during the January transfer window.
Reports now suggest the Italy international may be on the move again just six months after going to north London.
The 31-year-old may go to Lazio and could thus reunite with manager Maurizio Sarri, who he played under at Napoli and Chelsea.
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No way, Jose
Roma boss Jose Mourinho has made contact with a long-term Arsenal transfer target but the star “wants to wait for Premier League offers”.
Mourinho is eyeing a move to sign Leicester star Youri Tielemans on a free transfer when he officially leaves the King Power Stadium on June 30.
According to transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio , the Serie A side have already made contact with Tielemans over a potential move.
However, the Roman giants’ hopes rest on which other clubs approach the midfielder this summer.
Aston Villa are one such club who could come in for the Belgium international, with bookies slashing odds on a move to Villa Park.
The Gunners also remain interested and were linked with the 26-year-old as recently as April.
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Rice bidding war
West Ham are ready for a transfer war for Declan Rice after owner David Sullivan finally confirmed the player can leave, reports SunSport’s Jordan Davies in Prague.
The Hammers sealed their first European title since 1965 in dramatic fashion thanks to Jarrod Bowen’s last-gasp winner to down Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League.
Rice emulated legendary captain Bobby Moore by lifting the trophy in what was the dream send-off.
Arsenal are expected to make a bid for the £100million-rated England international in the coming days, while Manchester United, Manchester City and Bayern Munich may soon follow.
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Granit Xhaka latest
Arsenal ace Granit Xhaka’s move to Bayer Leverkusen will “take a few more days” as Mikel Arteta needs a replacement.
However, Bayern Munich are apparently no longer in the running for Xhaka ahead of the summer transfer window.
Sky Sports reports Florian Plettenberg tweeted: “It will take a few more days before both clubs reach an agreement.
“Xhaka still wants to join Bayer 04 and is waiting for the next steps.
“His contract is almost negotiated. Arsenal needs a replacement first (Rice, Gundogan, Caicedo). FC Bayern no topic.”
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Takehiro Tomiyasu update
Arsenal ace Takehiro Tomiyasu is still recuperating from surgery and is unlikely to be fit for the first couple of months of the new season.
The right-back spent most of last season as back-up to centre-back Ben White.
That is until Tomiyasu suffered a serious knee injury during the Europa League defeat to Sporting Lisbon in March.
Though Cedric Soares has returned to the club after an underwhelming few months on loan at Fulham, he does not figure in manager Mikel Arteta’s plans and is expected to leave this summer.
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North London battle
Arsenal are set to lock horns with rivals Tottenham for Galatasaray ace Victor Nelsson.
According to Fanatik , the Gunners are interested in signing Nelsson during the summer transfer window.
The same source claims the North Londoners’ local rivals Spurs are also keen on the centre-back.
Arsenal need to add depth at the back after dropping points following William Saliba’s injury.
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No Can do
Arsenal have opened preliminary talks to sign Manchester City star Joao Cancelo.
Cancelo, 29, is free to leave City in the summer after falling out with manager Pep Guardiola in January.
That’s opened the door for a number of clubs interested in the full-back, and the Gunners have emerged as the most interested party according to Sky Sports .
The same report claims the North Londoners have engaged in “early verbal talks” to explore the possibility of signing the Portugal international, although his preference is a move to LaLiga.
According to Kicker , Cancelo has his heart set on a move to Barcelona or Real Madrid amid interest from both clubs.
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Declan Rice breaks silence
West Ham superstar Declan Rice remained coy about his future after the Europa Conference League triumph amid links with Arsena.
Rice said: “Look at the moment, there’s obviously a lot of speculation going on about my future.
“Obviously there is interest from other clubs, that’s out there, but ultimately I still have two-years left at West Ham.
“I love this club, I love playing for this club, there hasn’t been nothing yet, so look my focus is playing for West Ham, enjoying tonight and seeing what happens.
“I’m captain of this club, I absolutely love it to pieces, I cannot speak highly enough of this place and let’s just see what happens.”
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Arsenal to move fast
Arsenal are going to move fast for West Ham superstar Declan Rice in the summer transfer window.
According to Football London, Rice is an absolute priority for the Gunners.
That means the North Londoners will not be drawn into a bidding war for the midfielder.
Arsenal want to avoid another case similar to Lisandro Martinez and Mykhailo Mudryk, who were hijacked by Manchester United and Chelsea respectively.
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Chelsea favourites for Caicedo
Chelsea are “leading the race” for Brighton star and Arsenal target Moises Caicedo.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano said: “I’m waiting for important updates once clubs will attack the situation.
“Moises Caicedo has not agreed personal terms with any club. Chelsea are convinced and consider him the perfect player for their idea.
“Sources I spoke to say the price is £70-80million, no more than this. Chelsea are leading the race at the moment, let’s see how Arsenal will react in the next weeks. Manchester United are informed.”
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Declan Rice price
Arsenal are set to make a transfer bid for West Ham superstar Declan Rice.
Rice looks set to leave the Hammers after owner David Sullivan confirmed he will be on the move.
But the Gunners will have to splash at least £100million for the star midfielder.
The England international has also been linked with Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
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Rice future confirmed
West Ham owner David Sullivan has confirmed Declan Rice has played his last game for the club just hours after their Europa Conference League triumph.
Sullivan told talkSPORT : “I think it has to be [his last game]. We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going.
“You can’t ask for a man who has committed more to us this season. In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement – or several replacements.
“It’s not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago. He turned it down.
“It’s cost him £10million to stay at West Ham in that time [in lost wages]. And he wants to go. You can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to be there.”
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Arsenal’s Gun deal
Arsenal are weighing up a swap deal for Galatasaray star Sacha Boey but face competition from a Premier League rival.
Boey is understood to have been valued at £22million by the Turkish champions, with the Gunners’ opening bid thought to be below this value.
However, the North Londoners could now land their man for a lower fee by including a player in the deal.
According to journalist Resat Can Ozbudak, Nuno Tavares could be included as part of the deal.
The report adds that Tavares’ representatives have met with Galatasaray over a potential deal.
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Folarin Balogun leaving
Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun could exit the Emirates for Inter Milan, AC Milan or West Ham after a sensational campaigh with Reims, which saw him registering 22 goals.
Balogun netted more times than Paris Saint-Germain’s Lionel Messi and Neymar.
And the striker is expected to depart the Gunners permanently this summer now that he’s proven himself at a high level.
According to The Mail , the two Milan giants are keeping tabs on the USA international.
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James Maddison price
Leicester have told Arsenal to cough up £40million for James Maddison ahead of the summer transfer window.
Maddison has a host of admirers, including Newcastle and Tottenham, after the Foxes’ relegation to the Championship.
The Gunners are now thought to be leading the bidding war for the versatile midfielder after missing out on the Premier League title.
But The Athletic report Leicester have slapped a £40m price tag on the England international as they look to rebuild their squad.
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Wilfried Zaha bidding war
Arsenal are set to battle Chelsea for Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha ahead of the summer transfer window..
Zaha is approaching the end of his Palace contract and will become a free agent if he does not put pen to paper on an extension.
According to Football London, the Gunners and the Blues are both interested in signing the winger in the summer.
But the Ivory Coast international is also mulling offers from abroad, with several Champions League teams , such as Atletico Madrid, stepping up
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All hands on Dec
Arsenal are expected to make a bid to sign West Ham superstar Declan Rice.
The Gunners haven’t tabled an offer yet out of respect for the Hammers, who were preparing for the Europa Conference League Final.
But after the East Londoners beat Fiorentina 2-1 in Prague, the North Londoners are now set to pursue Rice.
West Ham, though, won’t accept anything less than £100million for the midfielder.
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By Ian Tuckey
Morning, Arsenal fans
Gunners’ gossip is more about out than in this morning.
And although fans are calling on Arsenal to snap up Declan Rice following West Ham’s Europa Conference League triumph,most of the immediate focus is on those stars who might depart.
The greatest speculation surrounds Folarin Balogun.
Inter, AC Milan and Roma are all reportedly keen on the striker.
Balogun, 21, was a 22-goal loan sensation for Reims this campaign. Centre-back Pablo Mari is expected to turn his Monza loan into a permanent move.
But anchorman Granit Xhaka’s switch to Bayer Leverkusen is said to have been held up.
Winger Nicolas Pepe has failed to persuade Nice to buy him after the Ligue 1 club borrowed him for the season.
And he could be heading away from the Emirates along with Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, Cedric Soares, Charlie Patino, Auston Trusty, Marquinhos and Alex Runarsson.
However, Brazilian winger Marquinhos, 20, could be loaned out again following his half-season stint with Norwich.
Lastly, Real Valladolid right-back Ivan Fresneda is back on Arsenal’s radar, with his value reportedly halved to around £18million.
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By Ian Tuckey
Mari ‘heading for Monza’
Centre-back Pablo Mari is tipped to turn his Monza loan into a permanent deal.
The Serie A club are expected to trigger a £4.4 million clause to buy Arsenal’s Spanish star, 29.
Mari has also been on loan at Monza’s Italian rivals Udinese.
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By Ian Tuckey
Rice tears of joy – but in final Hammers’ game?
Tearful West Ham skipper Declan Rice celebrated Europa Conference League victory over Fiorentina tonight.
But was some of that emotion suggesting it’s his final game for the Hammers ahead of a possible move to the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United or Bayern Munich.
The England midfielder was understandably one of David Moyes’ most emotional players as Jarrod Bowen snatched a late 2-1 win.
Rice, 24, has been with West Ham for seven years, so any move will be a wrench
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By Ian Tuckey
Nine players tipped to exit Emirates
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is set for a huge summer of outgoings with nine players ready to leave the Emirates after returning from loan this summer.
Nicolas Pepe will head back to the Emirates after failing to secure a permanent move following a season on loan at Nice.
Pepe is not the only returning loanee whose situation is up in the air as Arteta and sporting director Edu Gaspar look to clear the decks to make way for a summer reshuffle.
Folarin Balogun, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, Cedric Soares, Charlie Patino, Auston Trusty, Marquinhos and Alex Runarsson are also coming back but don’t play any part in next season’s plans.
And with the exception of Marquinhos, who is likely to be loaned out again, the North Londoners are ready to listen to offers for all of the above to help offset the major spending spree being planned.
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By Ian Tuckey
Top young Guns needed
Arsenal are on the lookout for promising young talent ahead of the summer transfer window.
According to The Athletic ‘s journalist James Nicholas, the Gunners may be looking to recruit another young gem, similar to Gabriel Martinelli and Marquinhos.
Nicholas told the Arsecast podcast: “I think there might be young players who we sign, we might sign a 19 or 20-year-old who Mikel Arteta thinks the world of who could come into the first-team squad straight away.
“I think they’re looking at a couple of South American talents as they did last summer with Marquinhos, I think there are another two or three players of interest to Edu and his team that could be the new Martinelli potentially.
“One of those guys who gets a chance in pre-season and goes on and does well.”
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By Ian Tuckey
Milan giants duel for Balogun
Inter and AC Milan are still regarded as frontrunners to sign Folarin Balogun.
Roma have also been linked with the Arsenal striker, a sensation on loan for Reims.
Balogun, 21, has just opted to play for the USA despite winning England Under-21 caps.
And the Gunners’ hopes of keeping him might be weakened by his desire to repeat the regular football he had during his temporary spell in Ligue 1 this season.
Balogun is returning to the Emirates behind main hitman Gabriel Jesus and regular stand-in Eddie Nketiah.
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By Ian Tuckey
Xhaka exit on hold
Granit Xhaka’s Arsenal exit has reportedly been delayed.
The anchorman linked to Bayer Leverkusen is still expected to head out as Emirates boss Mikel Arteta targets two new midfielders, ideally Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo.
But it’s claimed Xhaka’s exit is no longer imminent.
The Gunners face an even tougher fight to land Caicedo as Chelsea are said to be keen on the Brighton star now that Sporting Lisbon’s Manuel Ugarte is ready to reject Stamford Bridge for PSG.
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By Ian Tuckey
Barca to win Ruben race
Wolves star Ruben Neves is set to complete a free transfer to Barcelona but manager Xavi does not want the Arsenal target.
According to Fichajes , the Spanish tactician does not have “absolute confidence” in Neves to play in a key position.
The midfielder is said to have agreed on a four-year contract at the Nou Camp, however, the move still relies on Ansu Fati agreeing terms with the Molineux outfit.
Barca will not be spending any money to sign the Portugal international as he will be involved in a swap deal that will see Fati, 20, going the other way.
Super-agent Jorge Mendes represents both players and will be handling the negotiations.
The report adds Xavi would prefer to sign a different Arsenal target to play the role instead and that is Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi.
