A pair of playmakers are being linked to Arsenal with The Sun reporting that both the Gunners and Manchester United have their eye on Porto star Danilo Pereira.
The paper says the two clubs have sent their scouts to Portugal in recent weeks to run the rule over the international midfielder, a vital component of Portugal’s victorious Euro 2016 squad.
The 26-year-old is known for his engine and he was certainly firing on all cylinders in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat of Portimonense, scoring his side’s opener after just five minutes.
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It’s that sort of form that has attracted both Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho, and the Sun says that the 6ft 2in defensive midfielder could well become the centre of a tug-of-war transfer tussle in the New Year. Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked with Danilo in the past but it’s believed that the huge amount they paid for Neymar in the summer has effectively ruled them out of the running.
Meanwhile talkSPORT claim that Arsenal are “willing to splash £14million” on Trabzonspor ace Yusuf Yazici. The broadcaster labels the 20-year-old midfielder a “sensation” and apparently Bayern Munich and Liverpool have also been scouting the young playmaker thanks to his scintillating form this season.
But Turkish outlet Fanatik say that they have it on good authority that the Gunners are ready to meet Trabzonspor’s £14m asking price. The Turkey international is said to be seen by Wenger as the ideal replacement for Mesut Ozil. The fact that the pair are represented by the same agent, Dr Erkut Sogut, has only heightened speculation in Turkey that a move to the Emirates is imminent for Yazici.
Finally, Read Bundesliga reports that Arsenal, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund are all tailing Racing Club youngster Lautaro Martinez.
The Argentina U-20 frontman is regarded as the next great thing in South America. Scouts from all three clubs have watched him recently, attracted by his modest £8m release clause.