Arsenal transfer news: Everton switch from Giroud to Welbeck

Everton are determined to get their hands on an Arsenal striker, reports the Sunday People, although which one will it be? The paper says that the Toffees are chasing Olivier Giroud but they are readying a bid for Danny Welbeck if they fail to land the Frenchman.

Apparently Everton boss Ronald Koeman "needs a focal point to his attack" following the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United earlier in the summer and although he's brought in Wayne Rooney, the ageing striker won't be his target man next season. Ideally it would be Giroud but the Gallic goalscorer wants to stay at the Emirates and it's believed Arsene Wenger is reluctant to sanction the sale of his compatriot, believing he would work well with another of Arsenal's French contingent, the recently-signed Alexandre Lacazette.

That's why Everton are now eyeing up Welbeck with the People claiming that Arsenal may be prepared to sell the England international for £30m, nearly twice as much as the £16m they paid Manchester United for the striker three years ago. Since arriving at Arsenal Welbeck has been plagued by injuries and Wenger is more likely to allow the 26-year-old to leave than he is Giroud.

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Meanwhile the Daily Star provides an update on the Thomas Lemar affair with the paper saying that the Gunners now "have a battle on their hands" to sign the Monaco ace. Apparently Barcelona have expressed an interest in signing the 21-year-old now they have cash to burn following the sale of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain for a record £198m, while Liverpool and Manchester City "are also monitoring Lemar's situation at Monaco".

The one glimmer of hope for Arsenal is that Barcelona may instead spend their newfound riches on Philippe Coutinho, with The Sun reporting that the Spaniards "are confident of landing the Liverpool playmaker in a £90m deal this week".