Arsenal transfer news: Malcom, Samuel Umtiti, Joan Jordan, Adrien Rabiot
Gunners head coach Unai Emery could make double raid on Barcelona
Malcom’s £60m price tag
Barcelona are ready to sell Malcom but Arsenal have “been warned” that they must pay £60m for the Brazilian “flop”.
It’s certainly true that since arriving from Bordeaux last summer, in a deal worth £35m, Malcom has failed to make much of a mark at the Camp Nou.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
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.
As a result, Spanish newspaper Marca says that Barca are ready to move him on in the summer. But he won’t come cheap with the Spanish giants asking £60m for the 22-year-old, money that will be put towards the £100m needed to land Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann.
The Sun says Arsenal boss Unai Emery is “interested” in Malcom and tried to sign him on loan in January.
Instead he opted for Denis Suarez but that hasn’t worked out. This has prompted the renewed interest in Malcom although the Gunners will try to haggle Barcelona down to around £40m.
Gunners also keen on Umtiti
The Daily Mirror also has some news from Barcelona for Arsenal fans but this time it concerns Samuel Umtiti.
Apparently the Gunners are “keen” to sign the French defender as they look to bolster their backline next season and Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that they have made contact with Barcelona over a possible deal.
Arsenal director of football Raul Sanllehi “has opened talks with Barca director of football Eric Abidal” and the Gunners are quietly confident terms will be agreed.
That’s because the Spanish club need to trim their wage bill, not just to accommodate Griezmann but also Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt, who is expected to arrive from Ajax.
Making eyes at Jordan
Still in Spain, but not at Barcelona, Football.London says that Unai Emery is “keeping tabs” on Eibar midfielder Joan Jordan.
The 24-year-old has been in sparkling form this season for the lowly La Liga club, and Emery believes he can be the man to fill the void left by Aaron Ramsey next season. Welshman Ramsey will join Juventus this summer.
Best of all for the Gunners, reports Marca, Jordan has a modest release clause of £12m. With his contract expiring in 15 months Eibar are ready to cut a deal to avoid losing Jordan on a free next year.
Rabiot update
Finally, there’s a welcome return for an old favourite of Transfer Talk courtesy of the Daily Mirror.
The paper says that Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot is now expected to join Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid in the summer.
He has been linked to Arsenal and Liverpool in the past but the Mirror, quoting Spanish paper AS, tips him to sign for Real in a matter of weeks.
Upcoming Premier League fixtures and TV guide
Saturday 30 March (3pm unless stated)
- Fulham vs. Manchester City (12.30pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Southampton
- Burnley vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Crystal Palace vs. Huddersfield Town
- Leicester City vs. AFC Bournemouth
- Manchester United vs. Watford
- West Ham United vs. Everton (5.30pm, live on BT Sport)
Sunday 31 March
- Cardiff City vs. Chelsea (2.05pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur (4.30pm, live on Sky Sports)
Monday 1 April
- Arsenal vs. Newcastle United (8pm, live on Sky Sports)
Tuesday 2 April
- Watford vs. Fulham (7.45pm)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Manchester United (7.45pm, live on Sky Sports)
Wednesday 3 April
- Chelsea vs. Brighton & Hove Albion (7.45pm)
- Manchester City vs. Cardiff City (7.45pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Tottenham Hotspur vs. Crystal Palace (7.45pm)
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - December 22, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - the long and short of it, trigger finger, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 hilariously spirited cartoons about the spirit of Christmas
Cartoons Artists take on excuses, pardons, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Inside the house of Assad
The Explainer Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez, ruled Syria for more than half a century but how did one family achieve and maintain power?
By The Week UK Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium early
Talking Point The belief that 'true fans stay to the end' does not always apply
By The Week UK Published
-
The European Super League: a 90th-minute reprieve?
In the Spotlight A European court ruling has potentially breathed new life into the breakaway football league
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published