By Sir Hardly Anyone
Oh yes, Arsenal are truly on the move now with players coming to the club so fast it is impossible to keep up with them all. Here are the details, roll up roll up, get your new (and old) transfer rumours here).
1: Upamecano
This transfer story of the Leipzig centre-back has been circulating for over a month but HITC has now brought it back blaming Tuttosport as the source saying “Arsenal are ahead of AC Milan and leading the race to sign Dayot Upamecano”.
“The Gunners, it seems, are in pole position to snap him up.”
Football London says that Arsenal have agreed a £34m fee, reduced because the player’s contract runs out next summer, while “Arsenal ‘snatch agreement’ for top €60m defensive target,” says
The Express also says, “Arsenal have reportedly won the battle to sign Dayot Upamecano from RB Leipzig with a fee already being agreed. The 21-year-old has established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting prospects due to his performances at the back for Leipzig.”
Now you may remember that the word “reportedly” went out of fashion for a while after we looked up the meaning of the word which is apparently “someone is saying this but we don’t believe a word of it.” So it is just possible none of this might be true.
2: Roca
“Arsenal want to pay £13.5m less than what’s needed for midfielder” says €25 million for Roca although his release clause at Espanyol is €40 million.
Sempre Milan seem to be the source. Who Scored says Roca has made 25 appearances in La Liga for Espanyol so far this season, scoring two goals and providing one assist in the process. But the feeling is that offering below the release clause won’t work – even though that is what most clubs are now looking to do.
3. Adil Aouchiche
HITC are telling us that “Arsenal target Adil Aouchiche is ready to quit PSG and is preparing for his exit,” although they quote Le 10 Sport who quote… well you know how it goes. He is a 17 year old midfielder.
4: Partey
“Report: Club’s board think £44m star is leaving, Arsenal most likely to sign him. ” And yes this is HITC again. He’s with Atletico Madrid and we are told “Atletico Madrid chiefs believe that Arsenal target is Thomas Partey is going to leave them this summer now” according to Cope.es.
5: Jonathan David
The4thOfficial website tell us that HLN website tell us that Arsenal have talked with the agent of Jonathan David but Manchester United, Ajax, Everton, Inter Milan and FC Porto also want him. He’s 20 and plays for Gent.
6: Kluivert
The Daily Mail chimes in with the fact that Arsenal “are interested in signing Roma forward Justin Kluivert as part of a deal that would see Henrikh Mkhitaryan move to the Italian capital permanently, according to reports.” Which is football talk for saying he’s staying at Roma.
8: Walce
Arsenal reportedly made approaches to sign young Brazilian Walce, the Sao Paulo defender says Talk Sport. Walce is 21, as played four times for his club and also represented Brazil at Under-23 level. Edu is working on the signing according to Sport Witness.
9 Pape Gueye
Arsenal and Liverpool have both been handed a second chance to sign Pape Gueye with the “Le Havre starlet” (oh for goodness sake where do they get these copywriters????) telling L’Equipe that he will not be joining Watford after all.
But Watford announced the signing of 21-year-old Gueye recently. Oops.
10: Not a transfer at all
“Mikel Arteta has stated he is “convinced” he has found the “right player” to help his side reach the “next level in the form of Eddie Nketiah.” That is in the Star.
Tim Sherwood tips Gabriel Martinelli to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal. That from the Metro. So not eddie then.
12: Another goalkeeper
Arsenal are reportedly interested in raiding Southampton for on-loan Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster this summer after an excellent 2019-20 campaign with the Scottish champions – and Lionel Messi once claimed he would end up at Arsenal. TBR Football, The Boot Room. Do we need another keeper?
13: Another youngster
“RMC reporter Mohamed Bouhafsi wrote on Twitter that Arsenal are one of the clubs with an interest in Said Benrahma. They join Leicester City and Chelsea, with the latter reportedly pushing the hardest to complete a deal.” Thus sayeth the Daily Canon.
14: Tuchel
We’ve been hearing about him for weeks it seems, but now HITC tell us that “Arsenal offer contract to a player Tuchel calls ‘great’, free-agent in July.”
So there we are. Are any of these true? Given that normally only 3% of tittle tattle stories are true, probably not.
But you never know.
The Slavery Files
Apparently there is a contract issue for Papa Gueye.
https://www.laprovence.com/article/om/6018812/mercato-lom-vise-pape-gueye.html