Arsenal transfer news: Wilshere Bournemouth move makes sense

Arsenal transfer news: Mesut Ozil rejects Real Madrid talk

01 April

Mesut Ozil has shot down suggestions he could leave Arsenal and return to Real Madrid in the summer. Rumours have grown in recent weeks that the 27-year-old German playmaker was considering quitting the Emirates with some of the more scurrilous members of the Spanish press claiming that he wanted to work with Real gaffer Zinedine Zidane.

But in an interview with German sport website Spox, and reported by Goal.com, Ozil admitted his admiration for the "amazing" Zidane but said he was not after a return to the Bernabeu. "That does not say anything about my future," he declared. "I am only thinking about Arsenal. There is no truth in the speculation linking me with a return to Spain."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

But there could be truth in the rumour linking Henrikh Mkhitaryan with Juventus, and that spells bad news for Arsenal, who have been linked with the 27-year-old Armenian ace.

Arsenal have had the free-scoring Borussia Dortmund midfielder watched several times this season and a bid was expected this summer. But Talksport carries the comments of the player's agent, Mino Raiola, who, has been talking up a move to Juventus rather than Arsenal. "I know that [Juventus coach Massimiliano] Allegri likes him, and Micky would happily wear the Bianconeri shirt." he said

Mkhitaryan, who has scored 20 goals for Dortmund this season, is highly prized by the Germans and Raiola boasted that any club who wanted his services would have to fork out a fair sum, particularly as Dortmund also face a fight to hang on to their other main striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

There's better news in the Daily Star which claims Arsenal are ready to finalise a deal for Charlton teenager Ademola Lookman ahead of the summer transfer window. The 18-year-old is under contract at The Valley until 2020 but cash-strapped Charlton are looking to cash in on the teenager, says the paper.

Arsenal transfer news: £95m for Aubameyang, but Kante drops hint

31 March

The money's silly but the message is serious. If Arsenal or Manchester United want to prise Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund this summer, it will cost them £95m.

Real Madrid have also expressed an interest in the 26-year-old Gabon goal machine but according to the Daily Star, all three clubs are going to have to break the bank to land him.

Asked if Dortmund were entertaining the idea of selling their sharpshooter at the end of the season, the club's sporting director, Hans-Joachim Watzke, replied: "If at any time an offer of €120m [£95m] for Aubameyang comes to us, then we will discuss."

That figure should be enough to deter Arsenal, although perhaps the sale of Hector Bellerin could go some way to enabling them to make a gargantuan bid.

According to Metro, Manchester City's incoming manager, Pep Guardiola, "wants to seal the transfer of Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin" as part of his plans to reshape the squad in his own image. Barcelona are also known to be interested in the 21-year-old Spanish defender and Arsenal could sell if a bidding war breaks out between the two cash-crazy clubs.

Over at website London24, there is speculation that Leicester City's N'Golo Kante could be a summer target for the Gunners after the French midfielder's eye-catching performances for the Foxes this season. Kante has been a reliable presence for Leicester and his reward was a call-up to the France squad for their recent friendlies against Holland and Russia.

Kante marked the occasion with a goal in Tuesday's 4-2 defeat of Russia and asked later about the Arsenal interest, he replied: "I will fight for Leicester this season and next season we never know and we will see. At this moment I am focused on Leicester. We have to finish well this season but I don't mind about [being linked with] the other clubs."

Finally, the Daily Express says Roman Neustadter is at the centre of a tug-of-war between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. The 28-year-old defensive midfielder joined Schalke from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2012 and has since established himself in the German national side. Taking its cue from German rag Sports Bild, the Express says Neustadter is out of contract in the summer "and talks over a new deal with Schalke have stalled".

The Gunners and their neighbours are both aware of the situation and of the possibility of landing him on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Arsenal transfer news: £35m for Granit Xhaka, Brozovic next?

30 March

Arsenal have won the race to sign midfielder Granit Xhaka, with the Swiss playmaker poised to join the team for £35m in the summer, according to reports in Germany.

Liverpool have also been chasing the Borussia Monchengladbach man, notes the Daily Mirror, but the tabloid, taking its cue from German paper Bild, says "Arsenal are in pole position and it is likely they will get their man this summer".

The paper also claims the Gunners could be in line to land Ukrainian Andriy Yarmolenko, after his national coach urged him to move to the Premier League. The £25m-rated winger has been linked with Everton, it adds, but Arsenal are also on "red alert".

Another name on Arsenal's wanted list is Guinea international Naby Keita, claims website HITC. It picks up on reports that Arsene Wenger has sent scouts to watch the 21-year-old Red Bull Salzburg midfielder in action and will decide whether to make a move in the summer.

The youngster has scored ten goals this season, but can also play as a defensive midfielder and that could be key for the Gunners, who are expected to lose Mathieu Flamini, Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky when their contracts expire at the end of this season.

Arsenal fans can also look forward to another bout of handwringing over Inter Milan midfield Marcelo Brozovic. The 23-year-old Croatian international has been heavily linked with the Gunners in the past and Talksport reports that they will "battle it out" with Chelsea to land him this summer.

It could be a familiar tale for Arsenal fans, however. They are expected to open the bidding at £15m, with Chelsea then tipped to come in with a higher offer.

Arsenal transfer news: Ibrahimovic puts Gunners on alert

29 March

Never mind the thoughts of Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov on Arsene Wenger, it was the message from Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic over the Easter weekend that had fans praying.

The stringy Swedish sharpshooter confirmed that "big things will happen" in the summer and reiterated his interest in ending his career in England.

"I think the Premier League is the league that attracts the most interest in the world," he is quoted as saying by The Guardian.

The 34-year-old is expected to leave the French champions in May and Arsenal are the favourites to sign him, although the Guardian points out that Manchester United and Chelsea are also monitoring events.

Asked if he had established contact with any English club, Ibrahimovic replied: "I'm not having any discussions regarding this at the moment. I will not lie to you, Mino [Raiola], my agent, handles everything regarding my future right now. I am playing football and he is focusing on that. Then, in the summer, we will look at all the options.

"I have a contract until the end of June, when contracts normally run out, and I believe I have a lot of options. A lot of big things will happen this summer."

The Daily Mail also carries the story and says that if Arsenal do intend to sign Ibrahimovic, they'll have to meet his wage demands, which are believed to in the region of £150,000 a week.

From veteran to novice and the Daily Telegraph claims the Gunners "have won the race" to sign 16-year-old Domingos Quina.

Described by the paper as a "Portuguese prodigy", the teenage sensation joined Chelsea from Benfica aged 13, but cannot sign professional terms until he turns 17. Arsenal scouts have been tailing him for a while and the Telegraph says his capture "represents a coup for the Arsenal academy who have traditionally not competed with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City" for Europe's top young talent.

Arsenal transfer news: Barcelona want Hector Bellerin back

24 March

The future plans of Barcelona full back Dani Alves could have serious repercussions for Arsenal, reports Talksport.

The broadcaster claims that Chinese Super League outfit Guangzhou Evergrande have "tabled a huge contract offer" to Alves, a former Arsenal target, and should the Barcelona defender take the money and run then the Spanish club will look to replace him with Hector Bellerin.

The Arsenal right-back came up through the Barcelona youth ranks before joining the Gunners in 2011, but Talksport says the 21-year-old is partial to the prospect of a return home.

The story appeared first in Spanish rag Mundo Deportivo, which claims Alves is considering his options in light of the money on offer from China. The Brazil international has been at Barcelona for eight seasons and is aware that at 32 he's approaching the end of his career. The same can't be said for Bellerin, whose youthful enthusiasm this season has caught the eye of Barca, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

However, Talksport is adamant that "only a return to Barca would tempt Bellerin into leaving the Emirates", and the player himself is quoted by Goal.com, declaring his loyalty to Arsenal. "I left Barca without looking back. I left focused on London and Arsenal and I am really happy there."

Meanwhile The Sun says Arsenal's hopes of signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic have taken a hit with the news that the Chinese government are poised "to help finance a huge two-year-deal to tempt Ibrahimovic to the Far East instead". The 34-year-old PSG striker will be invited to join the Chinese Super League next season in return for £59m, a sum far greater than the salary Arsenal could offer for Swedish sharpshooter.

Better news for Gooners in the Daily Star, however, with Mario Gotze's future the subject of more speculation. Liverpool were linked with the Bayern Munich frontman earlier in the month but now it's claimed Arsenal are "ready to make raid for the Germany star".

It's said that Gotze is attracted by the idea of playing under Jurgen Klopp again - as he did at Borussia Dortmund - but wants to move to a club that can offer him Champions League football. That could tip the balance in Arsenal's favour with the Gunners expected to rival any potential bid from Liverpool.

Arsenal transfer news: Ozil to stay as Wenger plots spree

23 March

Mesut Ozil is going nowhere. That was the message from the German after rumours emerged on Tuesday morning that he was contemplating a move away from the Emirates if Arsene Wenger didn't step down as manager at the end of the season.

The story, claims the Evening Standard, originated in Spanish publication Don Balon, and it drew a swift response from the 27-year-old German midfielder. "I have seen the media reports today," Ozil wrote on Twitter. "Arsene Wenger was a big reason for me joining Arsenal – this hasn’t changed!"

The emphatic denial would seem to rule out a summer move although the Standard says Turkish giants Fenerbahce haven't given hope of signing Ozil at some point in the future.

Talking of signatures, Caughtoffside.com conveys a report in German newspaper Bild about the likelihood of Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka becoming a Gunner next season.

Apparently Arsene Wenger has "already held talks" with Xhaka, and the Nutty Professor is cautiously optimistic he'll take possession of the 23-year-old during the summer. It's said that Wenger has been in discussion with Xhaka’s father - also his agent - and the midfielder is "keen on a move to the Premier League".

The one stumbling block may be Monchengladbach's asking price of £33m although there have been reports that Wenger has been ordered to splash the cash this summer, so the French tightwad may feel inclined to fork out.

And The Sun says that Wenger is preparing to loosen the purse strings even further in order to sign Alvaro Morata, who will "join Arsenal for £40m". The Spanish striker has been in good touch for Juventus this season and the Italians would make a healthy profit if they sold the 23-year-old for £40m, considering they paid £16m for Morata when they bought him from Real Madrid in 2014.

Arsenal transfer news: Bacca in, Sanchez and Ozil out

22 March

As rumours gather pace that Alexis Sanchez is heading for the Emirates exit, do Arsenal already have a replacement in mind for the Chilean frontman? According to Caughtoffside and others, AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca is being lined up by the Gunners with the north London club ready "to make a move" for the 29-year-old Colombian hitman.

Bacca has been in fine form for Milan this season, finding the net 14 times in 30 Serie A matches, a far better strike rate than Sanchez, who's scored a paltry seven goals in 21 league appearances. Bacca arrived at Milan last year from Sevilla and it's believed the Gunners will have to table a serious bid to land their man.

But finding the cash won't be a problem for Arsenal if, as the Daily Star claims, they sell Sanchez to Atletico Madrid. Taking Spanish news outlet Don Balon as its source, the Star says that Madrid boss "Diego Simeone is keen to complete his business early" and is readying a bid in excess of the £35m that Arsenal paid Barcelona for Sanchez in the summer of 2014.

And if Sanchez goes so might Mesut Ozil? The Sun says that the German midfielder "will leave Arsenal if Arsene Wenger stays" because he believes the Frenchman has run out of ideas at the Emirates. Among the possible destinations mentioned by the Sun for Ozil are Valencia, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid.

Meanwhile the Daily Mail says that Arsenal have had a word with French outfit Nimes about Anthony Koura. Described by the paper as a "pacy striker", the 22-year-old Koura is comfortable on the wing and as well as at centre forward. He scored nine goals in quick succession for the Mediterranean club before a back injury sidelined him, and according to the Mail Stoke, Sunderland and Newcastle have all scouted Koura at some point this season. Arsenal are likely to have first refusal with reports saying Nimes are "expected to do business for around £2m".

And the Mail also says that Arsenal are monitoring the progress of Napoli midfielder Jorginho. The 24-year-old Brazilian has been linked with the Emirates in the past and his agent, Joao Santos, let slip to Radio Crc that an approach would be welcome in the summer.