Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Neymar would ‘love’ Gunners, Declan Rice update, Joao Cancelo latest as Paris Saint-Germain interested in Odegaard
Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news, gossip and rumours from Arsenal in talkSPORT's live blog.
The summer window is almost open and Mikel Arteta is out to boost his squad to give them the best chance of mounting another title charge next season.
The Gunners came close to a first Premier League title in 19 years having finished five points behind champions Manchester City.
With City's dominance unlikely to waver and the clubs who finished below them set to get stronger, Arsenal are now set for huge activity both in and out of the Emirates to maintain their status alongside the elite.
Top stories
- Arsenal still favourites for Declan Rice despite Bayern Munich entering race
- Granit Xhaka has appeared to confirm that he's leaving Arsenal with cryptic goodbye
- Mikel Arteta hints that further contract extensions could be on the way after Bukayo Saka's new deal
Follow our live blog below for all the latest news from Arsenal…
Former Brighton striker Glenn Murray has warned Arsenal to stay away from making a move for Seagulls starlet Evan Ferguson.
“I don’t feel as though Jesus is an out and out nine, I would like to see a nine that stays up there and gives them a platform to play off of sometimes, you sometimes see Jesus deep with the centre-backs,” Murray told PLP.
When Ferguson was floated as a potential option, Murray quickly responded: “No, leave him alone!”
Barcelona manager Xavi has revealed he wanted to sign Arsenal target Joao Cancelo earlier this year before his loan move from Manchester City to Bayern Munich.
He told TV3: “We wanted Joao Cancelo at Barca in January, he was offered and we said yes”.
“Man City discussed that internally and then told us they did NOT want to allow Joao to join Barcelona.”
Cancelo is contracted at City until 2027 but the club are thought to be open to moving him on this summer, with Mikel Arteta keen on the defender following former teammates Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus to the Emirates.
Arsenal have reignited their bid to sign Real Valladolid defender Ivan Fresneda.
The Gunners were said to have been interested in the Spaniard in January but failed to get a deal over the line.
But now according to German outlet BILD, the north Londoners have lodged a ‘lucrative bid’ to sign him this summer instead, with Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney both linked with exits.
Arsenal are said to be open to allowing Thomas Partey to leave during this summer’s transfer window.
The Mail report that the Gunners will have around £180million to spend but can recoup additional funds through player sales, with Partey available alongside Granit Xhaka, Kieran Tierney and Rob Holding.
According to the Mirror, the 29-year-old Ghanaian midfielder is a target for two clubs in the Serie A.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner referenced Arsenal’s famous Invincibles after his team won all six races so far this season.
Quizzed by the Sun if he hopes the form of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez will cross the chequered flag first in all 16 tracks, Horner replied: “You are trying to get me to do an Arsene Wenger here aren’t you?”
Arsenal, under Wenger, claimed the 2003-2004 Premier League title without a single defeat.
Arsenal reportedly have no plans to let Emile Smith Rowe leave the club this summer.
The 22-year-old remains under contract until 2026 and is thought to still be an important part of Mikel Arteta’s plans despite making just 14 appearances last season after injuries saw him fall down the pecking order.
And the Athletic claim Arsenal hope Smith-Rowe will be a key player for England at the Under-21 European Championships which can then act as a spring-board to return to fitness and form next term.
Neymar has been told that he would love playing at Arsenal by Emmanuel Petit.
He told Genting Casino: “I think Neymar will suit any big club. If he comes to Arsenal, I would love it and I think he will too. I think he will enjoy the technical football and the style of Arsenal. He would love to play with younger players as he is quite mature himself.
”He will also have revenge on his mind with everything that he has been going through at PSG, and the tears he shed at the World Cup. I think he will be happy to move to Arsenal if that is the case. He can play on the left and the right, and because of his ankle injuries he can be a player in rotation.
”If he goes to Man Utd, I will be very happy for them and the Premier League. They have Rashford and Sancho who can man both wings, but also have the skills to rotate so Neymar can easily fit into that cycle.”
Ben Foster has urged Manchester United to sign Mason Mount and that could be key in attracting Arsenal target Declan Rice.
“It’s a big summer for Manchester United,’ Foster told The United Stand YouTube channel. “Erik ten Hag needs to put pressure on the board and get some more players in. They have to bring quality in.
“I like Mason Mount. I think it’s inevitable he is going to go which is a strange one for me. If I was Chelsea, I’m playing Mason Mount in the majority of games.
“He’s the sort of players you need in midfield. He will give you pure graft and work rate. Those are the players you need.
“If United could get him for £50 or £60m, get him through the door. That might open the door for Declan Rice as well. Imagine getting them two in, that would be a big boost, that would be a massive boost.”
Aston Villa are in talks to sign Arsenal target Marco Asensio, talkSPORT understands.
The 27-year-old Real Madrid star is a free agent in the summer and has plenty of interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with a move, but it is Villa who are hoping to complete a stunning swoop.
Mykhailo Mudryk ‘might not be happy’ about joining Chelsea over Arsenal according to Gunners legend Emmanuel Petit.He told Betway: “I liked the way Mudryk played against Liverpool on his debut, I think he put something different into the Chelsea game when he came up against them. He showed that he was very quick on the ball.” He showed that he wasn’t scared, he took responsibility straight away. However, the move has shown he is still a big gamble for the future. At first he wanted to go to Arsenal, but ended up at Chelsea, so my question is ‘’Is he happy about that?’’ I’m not sure. “But definitely he would add quality to their squad. I hope that he will be successful over at Chelsea.”
Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun will be a wanted man this summer.
During his time on loan at Reims in Ligue 1 last season, the USA forward has netted 20 goals in 36 league appearances.
Balogun is now expected to leave Arsenal permanently upon his return as he wants to be a first-choice striker wherever he plays next season.
AC Milan, Inter Milan, RB Leipzig, Marseille and Monaco are interested in his services, reports The Athletic.
Arsenal icon Ray Parlour has surprisingly named Jorginho as the Gunners’ signing of the season over Gabriel Jesus or Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Speaking to Metro, Parlour said: “Jorginho has done a good job in midfield. He’s got good experience for the money [Arsenal paid].
“I’m going off the value of the players signed. Trossard has also been an excellent signing. Jesus leads the line very well.
“But probably for the money they spent and the experience they got, which they needed, as well as a back-up in midfield, I would go for Jorginho.
“For the last two or three games he has been really good. You can’t buy experience. He knows what needs to be done to win trophies. Zinchenko has been excellent as well.”
Joshua Kimmich will be in huge demand this summer with Arsenal among the clubs chasing his signature.The Bayern Munich midfielder still has two years left on his current contract, but could be tempted to make the move to the Premier League.Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool have all been linked with a move for the 28-year-old.The Sun report that City are ready to make a move for Kimmich to make him a replacement for Ilkay Gundogan, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
Rio Ferdinand has admitted Arsenal should sign Declan Rice as they can offer him a better chance to develop than staying at West Ham.
He told the Vibe with Five podcast: “Declan Rice does improve your starting XI, no doubt for me, if you do go and get him.
“If they can close that gap and get it done, I think Declan Rice, as part of your culture driving, as having somebody that wants to improve, that can improve others, that gels squads together, he’s a real team player. “
That’s not even talking about his ability as a footballer, I think he’s fantastic. And I think there’s levels to jump for him ability-wise.
“He’s someone that wants to learn and is always striving to improve.
“And I think doing that at a club like Arsenal – whose aspirations are different to West Ham, no disrespect, they are – I think he’ll have a real opportunity to really improve himself as a player and go to another level.”
Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly lodged a surprise bid to sign Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard.
According to the Mail, the Ligue 1 champions are considering a shock move for the 24-year-old after an exceptional season in which he scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in 37 Premier League appearances.
But the report adds that PSG could find it tough to persuade Odegaard to leave the Emirates this summer, with the Norwegian settled in London and a key part of Mikel Arteta’s plans going forward.
Arsenal are set to be rivalled in the race to sign Real Madrid Marco Asensio by former manager Unai Emery at Aston Villa.
Onda Cero claimed that the Gunners are one of three main options for Asensio alongside AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain as the Spaniard gets set to become a free agent when his contract expires this summer.
Marca now report that Emery has spoken to Asensio on the phone in an effort to tempt the 27-year-old into joining Villa on a free transfer following their qualification to Europe.
Gabriel Jesus has been speaking about his plans to help spear Arsenal to glory next season having missed a large chunk on the club’s title challenge this term through injury.
He said: “The players who have a holiday can enjoy and have a great time with family and friends, and those who go to the national team can enjoy that a lot, then have a break after, and come back for the next season.
“I am so excited [for it]. I was a little bit unlucky about my injury.
“I missed a big part of the season but my mentality has always been my fitness and then to help my team, so next my main target is to be fit all season and help my team.”
Arsenal sporting director Edu has made a strong statement about the club’s transfer activity ahead of a busy summer.
“I think we are all happy to see the progression of the team and the club. That’s the main reason we feel proud of the season. To be fair, we have the taste that we could make something really special”, Edu told LondonWorld.
“We have to respect what we have done and must keep going in the right direction, keep the mentality to try and win important things. Let’s keep going in the direction we planned. Let’s keep going for next season.”
“We work in the best way possible,” added Edu.
“We try to do as best as we can to make this squad stronger and better. That’s our main purpose, to see the progression and to see the club moving forward in the right direction.”
Arsenal target Declan Rice has spoken out about his future as West Ham gear up for a Europa Conference League final.
Quizzed if winning in Prague next week against Fiorentina would be the perfect way to end his Hammers career, Rice replied: “I’ve not really focused on any of that, to be honest.
“My main focus this season, from the World Cup onwards, has been getting us out of a relegation battle and, of course, having one eye on winning this trophy.
“Everything else is just noise and speculation. Obviously, I can’t help that, it comes with playing.
“But my main focus is playing for West Ham and winning this final. My heart’s set on that, doing it for the club, for my family, for the fans and that’s my only focus.
“I want to make them all very happy and my focus is on doing that.”
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has had his say on club target Youri Tielemans as he becomes a free agent this summer following Leicester’s relegation.
“So many of their players have hit bad form and they just can’t take the hit. Look at Tielemans,” said Wright on his podcast Wrighty’s House.
“Tielemans’ drop-off this season is quite sad, you know. It [missing out on a move last summer] has got to have had some effect. I thought he would have got the move and he was playing the kind of football where you’re thinking ‘yeah he can’t stay there for much longer’.”
“But what’s happened is that you watch him and he hasn’t got the dynamism that he had,” he added.
Hello and welcome to talkSPORT's live blog for all the latest Arsenal news this summer.Our top stories are that Arsenal main favourites to land Declan Rice ahead of Bayern Munich, talkSPORT understands.Thomas Tuchel has notified Rice’s camp of his interest, however, the Bundesliga champions believe he’s likely to stay in the Premier League.Rice is also believed to have spoken to former Chelsea boss Tuchel but Arsenal are still leading the race to sign the West Ham captain – who has also attracted interest from the Blues and Manchester United.The 24-year-old England international has been earmarked as the man to replace midfielder Granit Xhaka – who has appeared to confirm that he’s leaving north London, posting a cryptic ‘goodbye’ message on his Instagram story.Xhaka, who is entering the final year of his contract, has been heavily linked with a move back to Germany this summer with Bayer Leverkusen keen on a transfer.After scoring twice against Wolves on Sunday, the Swiss international posted a picture of himself on his story wearing some Puma attire, captioned: “Two goals for the goodbye.”Whilst it’s likely Xhaka won’t be signing a new deal, Mikel Arteta has hinted that further contract extensions could follow Bukayo Saka’s.“Great news for the club,” Arteta told reporters after Saka committed his long-term future to the club.“The club has done a great job. He’s a crucial player for us who represents our club in the best possible way. Hopefully there are a few more to come.”
