Arsene Wenger Targets £25 Million-Rated Defender

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been slapped with a £25 million ($33 million) price tag by West Bromwich Albion to sign defender Jonny Evans.

Wenger is desperately trying to bring in defensive cover at the Emirates Stadium after center-backs Gabriel Paulista and Per Mertesacker suffered long-term injuries.

But clubs have recognized Arsenal’s heightened need for additions at the heart of its defense and have used the leverage to inflate valuations.

Wenger wanted to bring German Shkodran Mustafi to London but saw Valencia demand £50 million ($66 million) for the 25-year-old.

A year after West Brom signed Evans from Manchester United for a fee of £6 million ($7.8 million), the Baggies want more than four times what the club paid for him, according to the Daily Mail.

Evans spent almost a decade at Old Trafford before moving to The Hawthorns in the summer of 2015.

 

Source : Newsweek

Arsene Wenger Targets £25 Million-Rated Defender

Confirmed : Mahrez Agrees to Join Arsenal

Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez has decided to join Arsenal on a 42 million pounds deal, according to Eurosport.

 

The Algerian star is reportedly on his way out of Leicester City, following the footsteps of ex-teammate N’Golo Kante who left for Chelsea earlier this week.

An exodus was expected after Leicester City won the title considering their financial incapability in comparison to the English clubs causing it. Jamie Vardy was all set to begin it before Euro 2016, but eventually agreed to a new contract with Leicester instead of joining Arsenal, after his release clause was activated.

 

Nevertheless, N’Golo Kante kick started what had been anticipated to be the inevitable, when he left for Chelsea on a £32m deal. Riyad Mahrez is all set to add fuel to the fire, with reports saying that he has agreed to join Arsenal.

The signing of Mahrez shall be the second big name signing of the window for the Gunners after Swiss international Granit Xhaka. He is not necessarily the answer to Arsenal’s striker worries, but he does offer a whole new dimension to Arsenal’s attack.

In UEFA Euro 2016, Giroud excelled with the presence of a second striker in the form of Antoine Griezmann. If the deal for Mahrez materializes, once can imagine that Alexis Sanchez might as well partner the French center-forward up front with Ozil and the Algerian taking up the creative role.

Having scored 17 goals in the Premier League, Mahrez steered Leicester to title victory last season and also won the PFA Player of the Year award.

Confirmed : Mahrez Agrees to Join Arsenal

Wenger Ready to Finally Seal $55million Signing for Arsenal

Wenger is a huge admirer of Wolfsburg star Julian Draxler and wanted to sign him back in 2015. According to latest reports, the North Londoners are finally looking to seal his signing with a huge bid.

According to reports (Talksport via ESPN), Arsenal are preparing a mammoth move of 50 million Euros ($55 million) to hire the services of the former Schalke attacker.

Last season, in 35 games for the German side, Draxler directly contributed in no fewer than 17 goals.

Arsenal already have a top quality attacking midfield with world class players like Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil around. Therefore, the French boss does not really need Draxler and must look to sign a proven quality striker to improve the attacking department.

With the likes of Mourinho, Conte and Guardiola around next season, Wenger must largely improve the quality of his squad this summer if Arsenal are to have any chance of winning the Premier League title.

Wenger Ready to Finally Seal $55million Signing for Arsenal

Arsenal Defender To Join Watford On Loan

Calum Chambers could be Arsenal’s first summer departure with the defender closing in on a loan move to Watford for the 2016/17 campaign.

 

The versatile defender has found game time tough to come by with the Gunners and will be given a chance to revive his career with the Hornets in the Premier League next season.

 

According to the Daily Mail, Chambers will consider a season-long loan deal away from the Emirates Stadium in order to recapture his form, which saw him being called up to the England squad in 2014.

 

 

He made three appearances for the Three Lions after some impressing with the Gunners, but has since fallen out of reckoning owing to lack of first-team football during the recently concluded season.

 

The 21-year-old centre-back, who can also play at right-back, made just two starts for Arsenal during the 2015/16 campaign. Laurent Koscielny, Gabriel and Per Mertesacker are ahead of him in the pecking order for a place at the heart of the back four, while the emergence of Hector Bellerin has seen his chances at right back also drastically reduce.

 

Arsene Wenger, however, is not willing to give up on the highly-rated defender and is keen for him to go out on loan and get experience playing regular first-team football. Apart from Watford, Chambers’ former club Southampton are also interested in taking him to St Mary’s on a temporary basis, but regular game time will be the priority when a decision regarding his future destination is made.

 

The French manager is expected to bring in a new centre-back during the summer transfer window owing to inconsistent performances from Mertesacker and Gabriel during the course of the season.

 

According to the Telegraph, the north London club have shifted their attention to Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly following the arrival of Granit Xhaka as Wenger looks to get his business done early this summer.

Arsenal Defender To Join Watford On Loan

West Ham"s £25m Move For Arsenal Star

West Ham are considering a £25million move for Arsenal forward Theo Walcott, according to reports.

 

With Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy edging towards a transfer to the Emirates, his fellow England international could be allowed to leave by manager Arsene Wenger.

While the 27-year-old’s £140,000-a-week wages may be a stumbling block for the Hammers, Walcott has become frustrated at a lack of opportunities with the Gunners – reveals the Evening Standard.

Last season the former Southampton man started only 15 Premier League matches, and if Vardy completes a move it could knock him further down the pecking order in north London.

West Ham"s £25m Move For Arsenal Star

Arsenal Close In On Second Signing

Arsenal are ready to make Kalidou Koulibaly their second summer signing in a £20m deal, according to reports.

 

The north London side have wasted no time in getting down to business in the summer transfer window after securing the signing of Granit Xhaka on Wednesday.

The Gunners are tipped to be one of the busiest clubs in the summer transfer window as Arsene Wenger looks to build a squad capable of winning the Premier League title next season.

Now, The Telegraph is reporting that Arsenal have identified 24-year-old Napoli defender Koulibaly as a top transfer target this summer and are confident of securing a deal for the player.

Chelsea have also been linked with a move for the defender but the same report says that Wenger is keen to bring the player to The Emirates to partner Laurent Koscielny in the heart of the Gunners’ defence.

Arsenal Close In On Second Signing

Wenger Confirms Three Big Players To Be Offloaded This Summer

Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will lose ‘three big personalities’ this summer

Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky will leave The Emirates this summer.

The French defensive midfielder has played the most first-team football of the trio after scoring two goals in 24 appearances in all competitions.

Arsenal club captain Arteta has made eight substitutes appearances in an injury-hit campaign, including a disastrous performance in a 2-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion.

Czech Republic star Rosicky hasn’t played a single minute in the season’s Premier League due to injury.

Speaking at his pre-match media conference ahead of Arsenal’s home clash against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon, Wenger provided an update on the ageing trio of midfielders.

“We will lose three big personalities,” Wenger said.

Rosicky has spent the longest time at Arsenal after he moved to north London from Borussia Dortmund in 2006.

Uncapped Spain midfielder Arteta joined Arsenal from Everton in a £10m deal in 2011 before he was made club captain.

Flamini has enjoyed two spells at Arsenal with a short stay at AC Milan sandwiched in the middle of his professional career.

Wenger Confirms Three Big Players To Be Offloaded This Summer

Wenger Confirms Midfielder"s Departure From Arsenal

Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Arsenal will not renew Mikel Arteta’s playing contract at the end of the season and says it is “possible” the club captain will join Manchester City in a coaching role.

Arteta, 34, is out of contract in the summer and is expected to retire from playing to concentrate on a coaching career, with incoming Manchester City manage Pep Guardiola keen to bring his Spanish compatriot to the Etihad Stadium.

It’s true that he’s out of contract here and it’s a good opportunity for me to thanks him for his contribution as a player and a leader,” Wenger said on Friday.

“It is possible [he will coach at Manchester City]. I heard about that possibility but he is able to inform you much better than me.

“He’s free to do what he wants. I still think he can play and in the last month he has come back to a very good physical level to continue to play.”

Arteta moved to England ten years ago when he joined Everton back in 2005, originally on a loan deal with the option of making it permanent.

Arteta’s strong form under David Moyes then earned him a move to north London back in August 2011, where he has since had a mixed time.

The Spaniard has had to have various surgeries on a variety of problems, including one an ankle last season, after suffering with the issue earlier in that season.

Wenger Confirms Midfielder"s Departure From Arsenal

Wenger Explains Why Sanchez Left Down The Tunnel

It was the 84th minute and Arsenal were clinging onto a slender 1-0 lead over a Norwich side inspired by the threat of relegation. Arsene Wenger had one substitute left and appeared to use it wisely.

Defensive midfielder Francis Coquelin stripped down and moved towards the touchline, the board went up and Alexis Sanchez’s number was called.

The Chilean had struggled throughout the game but had, as usual, run himself ragged trying to make a definitive contribution. Coquelin would add more defensive stability in the final minutes, making it a natural move for Wenger to make.

But Sanchez was having none of it and stormed straight down the Emirates Stadium tunnel, never to reemerge. Fans were quick to wonder if their star attacker had picked up an injury, but it appears that he was simply throwing a classic hissy fit.

Wenger confirmed that Sanchez went down the tunnel out of dissatisfaction but appeared to shrug off the suggestion that he would be reprimanded for such a move.

Source : Givemesports

Wenger Explains Why Sanchez Left Down The Tunnel