Arsenal transfer news LIVE: £100m Declan Rice interest ramped up as star speaks out, Joao Cancelo contract talks latest, Sofyan Amrabat eyed
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 close to double contract breakthrough
- Arsenal still favourites for Declan Rice despite Bayern Munich entering race
- Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with a shock swoop for Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard
- Granit Xhaka has appeared to confirm that he's leaving Arsenal with cryptic goodbye
Follow our live blog below for all the latest news from Arsenal…
Arsenal will reportedly have to pay up to £40million for Leicester star James Maddison.
Maddison is being linked with several clubs following the Foxes’ relegation to the Championship with Arsenal, Newcastle and Tottenham said to be keen.
The Athletic report Leicester will demand a top price for the England international as they look to rebuild their squad.
More on Declan Rice and West Ham,chairman David Sullivan has confirmed to talkSPORT that the England star has played his last game for the Hammers.
When asked whether last night’s historic victory over Fiorentina was Rice’s last match in a West Ham shirt, Sullivan said: “I think it has to be.
“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.”
When asked if the Hammers have received an offer, Sullivan said: “No. But I think the offers will start to come today.
“There are three or four clubs who have shown interest, but out of respect to West Ham, while we’re still playing, you don’t make offers for players.
“That’s not the way decent clubs do things.”
Arsenal are reportedly set to bid £90million for Declan Rice.
The Daily Mail are reporting that the Gunners are keen to ‘swiftly conclude’ a deal for the England international.
They add that the Hammers want any fee to be paid off in full inside the next two years and they are still holding out for over £100m.
The reports add that Manchester United remain keen on Rice as well.
West Ham skipper Declan Rice does not know if he has played his last game for the club after the Europa Conference League victory over Fiorentina.
Rice told BT Sport: “It’s not a goodbye yet. Look at the moment there’s a lot of speculation about my future.
“There is interest from other clubs, that’s out there, but ultimately I’ve still got two years left at West Ham (one year plus option).
“There hasn’t been nothing yet (offers). Let’s wait and see, who knows.
“I love every minute of it here, you can see the smile on my face. It’s not about that tonight, it’s about celebrating and that’s what I’m going to do now.”
Arsenal are expected to ramp up their transfer interest in Declan Rice following the Europa Conference League final.
Rice captained West Ham to glory in the match last night and it could well be his final game for the club.
talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent Alex Crook said: “Declan Rice was obviously quite emotional last night as he was looking at the West Ham fans after sealing that incredible first trophy since 1980.
“I think he knows and West Ham know that in all likelihood it will be his last game.
“I think the clubs who are chasing his signature have held off from a formal approach until after that final last night.
“I expect Arsenal now to come in with a bid. I guess it comes down to the asking price.
“Our own Jim White revealed a few weeks ago that they are looking for £100million up front, maybe rising to £120m.
“That is more than Arsenal would normally spend on a player, but Mikel Arteta is very keen on Declan Rice.
“Despite interest from Germany, Declan Rice is very keen on a move to Arsenal.
“I would expect that to ramp up now.”
Folarin Balogun is set to leave Arsenal this summer with Italian giants interested.
Balogun will return to Arsenal this summer following his loan last season but is keen to find first-team football and looks likely to now make a permanent exit.
AC Milan and Inter are monitoring the striker while Roma are also keeping an eye on the situation, according to MailOnline.
He spent last season at Ligue 1 side Reims and impressed, with his successful time away leaving him wanting more regular game time next campaign.
And with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah to compete with, Balogun is set to move on from the Emirates to find what he is looking for.
Burnley are interested in signing Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga this summer.
Lokonga spent the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace after struggling for gametime under Mikel Arteta.
However, after Palace sacked Patrick Vieira, the midfielder has the same issues at Selhurst Park.
He will now return to Arsenal for pre-season but a move away from the club is likely once again and Burnley are reported to be interested.
Vincent Kompany’s side are looking for new additions after promotion back to the top flight and the Clarets boss is keen to sign his fellow Belgian.
Arsenal have been handed a boost in their hopes of securing William Saliba’s long-term future.
According to Football London, contract talks between Arsenal and Saliba’s representatives are progressing positively and a new deal is close to being agreed.
The Frenchman is out of contract next summer and Paris Saint-Germiain are thought to be monitoring his situation.
Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Arsenal are the reason for allowing Manchester City a chance to win the treble.
He said on the VIBE with FIVE podcast: “It was your job, you were ahead 93 per cent of the time.
“You was in a prime position to do that, and you folded like a pack of cards.”
Arsenal target Youri Tielemans has reportedly received contact from Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma.
The Belgian is available as a free agent this summer following his contract expiring at Leicester and has long-term admirers at the Emirates.
According to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Roma have stepped up their interest in the 26-year-old.
But in an added boost to Arsenal, Tielemans is said to be waiting on offers from the Premier League before making a decision.
Nicolas Pepe is heading back to Arsenal after failing to secure a permanent move following a season on loan at Nice.
According to the Sun, the Gunners now fear being lumbered with the unwanted winger for the final year of his £140,000-a-week contract.
£72million Pepe remains the club’s record signing following his move from Lille in 2019 but he plays no part in Mikel Arteta’s plans.
Arsenal star Leandro Trossard has picked up an injury.
According to Belgian publication HLN, Trossard underwent a minor operation after the end of the Premier League campaign and has now been ruled out of the Belgian squad.
Trossard originally picked up a minor groin injury in the 3-2 win over Bournemouth in March and seemed to be struggling with an ongoing issue right up to the end of the season.
A West Ham fan has told talkSPORT that his side winning the Europa Conference League would mean they would have had a better season than Arsenal.
The Hammers have the chance to end over half a decade stint without silverware when they face Fiorentina in Prague tonight.
Arsenal target Sofyan Amrabat has fuelled the speculation he could move to England this summer.
“Of course, the Premier League is a fantastic league, one of the strongest in the world,” Amrabat told the Daily Mail.
“It would be nice to play there one day, but it’s not that I want only to go to England, because Spain is nice, Serie A is a nice league.
“Football has changed a lot, it’s more physical, you have more to be an athlete, the tempo and intensity is higher.
“Of course, in England the intensity is very high, so I think it could suit me.”
Arsenal will reportedly face competition from Saudi Arabia to sign Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan.
The Evening Standard claim clubs in the Gulf state have taken an interest in the soon-to-be out-of-contract German and could rival Arsenal.
The report adds that City have still not given up hope of penning an improved deal for the 32-year-old, but Gundogan is waiting until after the Champions League final to make his decision.
Folarin Balogun has been tipped to stay at Arsenal according to American teammate Matt Turner.
Gunners goalkeeper Turner wants Balogun, who recently switched international allegiances to the United States, to provide competition for Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah following his stunning loan at Reims.
“I had a pre-season with him [Balogun] at Arsenal and we developed a pretty good relationship but then he left to go on loan,” Turner explained. “He scored lots of goals on his loan spell and he has done really, really well.
“It’s someone to be excited about and I think that knowing his personality, he’ll fit in well with the group.
“Flo is a really talented player that’s going to bring a fiery edge to the group, he’s a super competitive guy and that fits in well with the people we have in this locker room already.
“Again, he’s going to be a great addition and creates more competition at that No 9 spot and when you have competition like that it elevates everyone else’s game.”
Matt Turner has hailed his first season at Arsenal but has admitted his lack of game time was an issue.
The American made just seven appearances since signing from New England Revolution last summer – five in the Europa League and twice in the FA Cup – and is yet to make his Premier League debut.
Reflecting on his 12 months, in which he also became a father, Turner said: “It’s changed me, made me a better goalkeeper, a better person, a better player.
“Besides the on-field stuff, off the field moving to a new country, experiencing new cultures and new styles of play, a new manager with different expectations, playing with pressure and all that kind of stuff led me into the World Cup and having a great World Cup.
“This season was amazing at Arsenal. I learned so much and we won games, but I would have liked to play a little bit more. On the personal side, I didn’t hit as many goals as I would have really liked to.”
Arsenal will face competition from Spain’s two biggest clubs in their bid to sign Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo.
Sky Sports claim the Gunners have engaged in ‘early verbal talks’ to sign the Portuguese full-back after he was deemed surplus to requirements by Pep Guardiola.
But the report adds that Cancelo’s own preference has been revealed to return to La Liga, with both Real Madrid and Barcelona interested.
Danny Murphy has told talkSPORT that Declan Rice is getting close to joining Arsenal.
He revealed on White & Jordan: “I saw him at the golf club last week but I didn’t ask him [about his future].
“But what I’m hearing is Arsenal and that it’s pretty done. I know Bayern have come in late but I don’t know anything about that.”
Reiss Nelson will sign his new Arsenal contract imminently.
The 23-year-old is out of contract this summer but a breakthrough in negotiations last week means he will now pen an extension until June 2027 plus an option to extend further included.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Nelson was approached by Italian, French and English clubs but his priority has always been to stay at Arsenal.
Laura Woods’ reaction to Chelsea’s interest in Moises Caicedo summed up every Arsenal fan!
Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, she said: “I’ve got another Chelsea one, apparently they’re keen on Moises Caicedo. Oh for god’s sake…”
Ally McCoist said: “We’re just stripping Brighton of every player they’ve got, it’s terrible.
Asking talkSPORT chief football correspondent Alex Crook, Woodsy added: “How likely is that one to go through?”
Crook replied: “I think it’s quite likely…”
Cue Woodsy hiding her face with a piece of paper..
Arsenal have revived their interest in Ivan Fresneda, according to reports.
The Sun have reported that the Gunners are set for a renewed push to sign the teenage defender following Real Valladolid’s relegation from La Liga.
Mikel Arteta was known to have been keen on landing his young compatriot during the January window but Valladolid held firm.
Now the report adds that Fresneda’s club may be willing to halve the £35million price tag they originally slapped on the 18-year-old right-back earlier this year following their fall to the Spanish second division.
Hello and welcome back to talkSPORT.com’s live blog of the latest Arsenal news – our top stories this morning are…
Arsenal remain optimistic on their chances of signing Declan Rice, talkSPORT understands.
The Gunners are set to make a formal approach for West Ham captain Rice after today’s Europa Conference League final.
Rice is also wanted by Bayern Munich but is believed to prefer a move to the Emirates.
Manchester United have been asked to be kept informed on developments but do not consider themselves front-runners.
West Ham value Rice at more than £100m.
That’s all for today’s Arsenal news.
Visit our live blog tomorrow for the latest updates on the Gunners!
Arsenal are still interested in signing Joao Cancelo this summer.
However, Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth says that the Gunners and Manchester City have a gap in their respective valuation of the right-back.
Cancelo spent the second half of the season on loan at Bayern Munich, making 21 appearances for the club.
However, the Bundesliga champions have not exercised the option to make his move permanent this summer.
