WITH THE Arsenal defence leaking like a hastily assembled wall of sandbags, could their salvation lie in the safe hands of Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris? Yes, says the Daily Mirror, which says Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is doing his utmost to persuade compatriot Lloris to make the move across north London.
The Mirror says that the French shotstopper will "seek to leave White Hart Lane" in the summer if Spurs do not qualify for the Champions League, and the paper quotes Giroud telling French TV: "Have I asked him to join Arsenal? Yes, I have with Lolo [Laurent Koscielny]... he would quite like to. You will have to ask him the question."
The 27-year-old Lloris joined Spurs from Lyon in 2012 and his presence at the Emirates would be welcomed by Arsenal, who have been linked with several high-profile glovemen in recent months.
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
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Latest Videos FromThe Week
As if luring the Spurs keeper to the Emirates wouldn't be a spectacular enough coup, Arsene Wenger has also refused to rule out re-signing former Gunners striker Robin van Persie.
The Dutchman walked out on Arsenal in 2012 to join Man United, but after winning the title in his first season in Old Trafford there is talk that he is now unsettled under new manager David Moyes, reports Metro. Of course, RVP will be centre of attention when the two clubs meet tomorrow night and when asked about rumours linking the player with a return to the Emirates, Wenger was coy about the prospect of a surprise swoop.
"I don’t think it’s the best time to talk about that," he told reporters, when the topic was raised.
Meanwhile, website Caughtoffside predicts a rather less dramatic signing for the Gunners, in the form of Southampton younster Calum Chambers.
The 19-year-old full-back has come off the same production line as Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and another highly rated youngster Luke Shaw. Caughtoffside adds that the 19 year old would be a perfect replacement for French veteran Bacary Sagna, who looks set to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer when his current contract expires. The Gunners could even be prepared to pay £10m for the youngster, says the website.
Elsewhere and Talksport claims that Liverpool may miss out on long-term target Juan Iturbe. The 20-year-old Porto frontman has been strutting his stuff on loan for Hellas Verona in Serie A this season and his form hasn't gone unnoticed by some of Europe's finest. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is a fan, as are Roma, but the final decision rests with the young Argentine and in conversation with Italian paper Tuttosport, Iturbe hinted at a summer move to Turin.
"I do not know anything about my future," he said when asked. "Certainly Juventus are a real team, the strongest in Italy, and who would not [want to sign for them]?"
The Daily Mail reports that Ravel Morrison will complete a loan move to QPR by the end of today. The former Manchester United midfielder has allegedly been unsettled at Upton Park in recent weeks and the Mail even claims he's refused to play for West Ham due to a "niggling" injury. But it seems the 21-year-old Morrison is well enough to go on loan to Rangers, joining the Hoops for three months with West Ham having the option of recalling him within the first 30 days.
Talking of youngsters, that of Aston Villa midfielder Marc Albrington will be up for discussion in the near future, according to Goal.com. The 24-year-old midfielder impressed in the defeat against West Ham on Saturday, and Villa manager Paul Lambert is keen that the young playmaker signs a long-term contract extension with the club when his current deal runs out in June .
Injuries have hampered the progress of the former England Under-21 international in recent seasons but Lambert believes Albrington is back to his best. "He's just been really unlucky with his injuries which have kept him out for a long spell," said Lambert. "It's just the way things have worked out with games, his injuries, one after the other, but I know he's out of contract, so I'll sit down with him."
