Arsenal transfer news: Wilshere Bournemouth move makes sense

Arsenal transfer news: Daniel Sturridge to replace Olivier Giroud

9 May

After a disappointing season, Arsenal's French striker Olivier Giroud could be heading to German outfit Wolfsburg at the end of the season, claims Metro, which begs the question: have the Gunners got a replacement lined up?

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The Daily Mirror certainly thinks so, claiming in a stunning exclusive that Arsenal "will make a £30m move for Daniel Sturridge when the summer transfer window opens".

The 26-year-old put in a man-of-the-match performance for Liverpool last week against Villarreal in the Europa League, but it hasn't been all plain sailing for the former Manchester City and Chelsea sharpshooter. Booed by some of the Kop earlier in the month, the England striker has reportedly not always seen eye to eye with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. The Mirror also says that despite the fact that Sturridge signed a new five-year deal in 2014, "he has never suggested he wants to stay at Anfield for the rest of his career".

Arsene Wenger is now believed to be preparing a bid, one that with Sturridge's recent injury problems, will come in at a modest £30m with Liverpool likely to accept.

Meanwhile Metro hints that the Gunners may be mulling over a move for Lucas Vazquez as Wenger looks to get shot of Theo Walcott after a decade of general disappointment. Describing the England winger as "a bit of a joke figure for the Arsenal faithful", Metro claims Arsenal are primed to pounce for Real Madrid winger Vazquez in what would be a like-for-like acquisition - the only difference being that Vazquez can do more than just run fast.

Arsenal transfer news: Denis Suarez tops wishlist with Isco and N'Golo Kante

05 May

Arsenal look like losing out to Spurs in the struggle for second spot behind Leicester but according to Metro the pain of finishing behind their neighbours for the first time in 20 years could be eased by victory in the battle for the hand of Denis Suarez.

The Villarreal midfielder, who'll be in action tonight against Liverpool in the Europa League semi-final, was linked to Spurs earlier in the season but Metro claims Arsenal have opened talks with with Spanish club and are confident of sealing the deal.

The 22-year-old Suarez spent two years at Manchester City between 2011 and 2013 and Spanish rag Marca says that was when Arsene Wenger first began taking an interest in the attacking playmaker.

Still in Spain and the Daily Star reports that Manchester United are determined to sign Isco ahead of interest from Arsenal. Since moving from Malaga to Real Madrid, Isco has floundered and apparently United are keen on giving the Spain international a new lease of life. That will cause consternation at the Emirates with the Star saying "an agreement is in place for Arsenal to hold talks with the 24-year-old at the end of the season".

Much may depend on whether Jose Mourinho takes over at Manchester United at the end of the season with reports that he will use his influence to sign Isco.

Despite Leicester's declaration on Tuesday that none of their players will be moving on in the summer, the media is convinced that won't be the case with Goal.com claiming the Gunners "have already met with N'Golo Kante's representatives".

French broadcaster RMC Sport broke the story and says that the Gunners are ready to to trigger the midfielder's release clause. However, Goal.com admits that while Arsenal are ready to pay £19.8m to secure the services of the playmaker they need to "hold further talks to clarify Kante's desire to move to north London".

Arsenal transfer news: Wenger wants underachiever Jordan Ibe

4 May

With Arsenal fans growing weary of their usual top four finishes, could it be Groundhog Day in the transfer market as well this summer? It seems so with the Daily Express reporting that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is "interested in a summer move for Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe".

The paper goes on to say that the England Under-21 international "has struggled to find consistency" at Anfield, hence the reason he could be moved on in the summer. But to the Emirates? Given that the Gunners have already got two inconsistent English wings of their own in Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the Arsenal faithful could be forgiven for thinking Arsene Wenger has finally taken leave of his senses.

The 20-year-old Ibe is apparently "considering his options", usually agent-talk for waiting to see if a club comes in with a huge offer. Watford and Tottenham have also expressed an interest in the youngster, who joined Liverpool from Wycombe in 2012, but Arsenal are favourites to add him to their stable of fleet-footed underachievers.

Someone who certainly hasn't underperformed this season is Watford striker Odion Ighalo, who's hit the net 15 times for the Hornets. And according to the Daily Star Watford are "ready to cash in" on the Nigerian frontman with the Gunners and Manchester United both vying for his signature.

The 26-year-old has admitted in the past that Old Trafford would be his "dream" move but Wenger is believed to have more interest in signing Ighalo than Louis van Gaal.

Wenger's interest in Ighalo may have been piqued by the FA Cup goal he scored against the Gunners, but the Frenchman also has an eye for misfiring strikers, and the BNigerian's current run of one goal in 14 games rivals that of the much-mocked Olivier Giroud, who has not scored for 15 league games.

Arsenal transfer news: Lewandowski to kick start £150m spree

03 May

Arsenal are the latest club to be linked to Robert Lewandowski with the Daily Mirror reporting that the Gunners have joined the queue to sign the Bayern Munich marksman alongside Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, although Spanish giants Real Madrid are leading the chase.

The Mirror says that the Poland international "hinted" last week that he was casting his eyes towards the Premier League, the paper overlooking the fact he has three years to run on his contract with the German champs. If the Gunners are serious about landing Lewandowski they'll have to stump up £50m although the Mirror claims "that would not deter the Gunners" because manager Arsene Wenger "will have in excess of £150m to spend in the summer".

And Wenger might indulge in another spot of summer shopping in Munich with the Daily Star saying that the Nutty Professor has decided to strengthen his back four ahead of finishing fourth next season.

The paper claims that Per Mertesacker is "likely to leave the Emirates in the summer" while Wenger remains unconvinced by Gabriel. As a result Wenger is after Medhi Benatia, the 29-year-old Morocco international who has been a bit player in the Bayern defence this season.

Arsenal transfer news: Henrikh Mkhitaryan in - Walcott out

29 April

It could be open season on Borussia Dortmund this summer, with several of the German club's players heading for pastures new. Mats Hummels has announced his intention to join Bayern Munich, reports The Guardian, and now Arsenal, already said to be keen on striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, are zeroing in on the German side's key midfielder.

According to Talksport, the Gunners have "edged ahead of Juventus in the race to sign" Henrikh Mkhitaryan with the Londoners having held "preliminary talks" with the Borussia Dortmund playmaker. Italian media outlet Tutto Mercato says that Arsenal have stepped up their pursuit of the 27-year-old Mkhitaryan (who has scored 18 goals this season for the Bundesliga outfit) in light of their sorry end to the season.

As for their chances of success in prising Mkhitaryan from Germany, Talksport says that Dortmund's initial resolve to keep hold of the midfielder has been weakened by "Arsenal's £23m offer", although according to the Daily Mirror, they have also received an enquiry from Chelsea about Mkhitaryan's availability.

And where might the Gunners find such a sum? From the sale of Theo Walcott to Manchester City, that's where. Incoming Citizens boss Pep Guardiola was recently said to be weighing up a move for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain but it seems the Spaniard may line up double swoop on the Emirates in the summer.

According to the Evening Standard, Guardiola is a "keen admirer" of the 27-year-old Arsenal winger and "has asked City to monitor Walcott's situation closely". Arsene Wenger recently admitted he "didn't know" if Walcott had a future at the club, and the Standard says that City "would not find his £140,000-a-week wage prohibitive" as they look to recruit more homegrown players to keep on the right side of Uefa regulations.