Scouting Barella
Arsenal scouts were in Italy on Tuesday night to watch Cagliari star Nicolo Barella in action as his team were beaten 2-0 by Juventus in Serie A.
It’s the third time the Gunners have checked out the 22-year-old. The midfielder, who comes with a £43m price tag, has also attracted interest from Chelsea in recent months.
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The two London clubs are keen to lure Barella to the Premier League this summer. Arsenal boss Unai Emery regards the Italian star as the sort of player who has the potential to fill the considerable gap left by Aaron Ramsey.
The Sun claims that Emery is impressed by his maturity at such a young age and the fact he can “withstand pressure and keep his composure”.
Great Scot
AFC Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser has emerged as a surprise target for Emery, Metro reports.
Described by the paper as an “assist machine”, the Cherries’ wide man has the ability to provide a threat from the flanks and feed the goal-hungry pair of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Fraser has provided ten assists in the Premier League this season – a figure bettered only by Chelsea’s Eden Hazard – and Emery has added the Scot’s name to his shopping list this summer.
The news is confirmation, Metro adds, that Spaniard Emery is “giving up on Denis Suarez”. The Barcelona winger has failed to make the grade since his arrival from the Camp Nou in January.
Fraser is out of contract in 2020 and it appears that Bournemouth would rather cash in on the 25-year-old Scotland international now than risk losing him on a free in 12 months’ time.
Pepe too pricey
Another reason why Fraser is in Arsenal’s sights, says Football.London, is because Emery has given up on Nicolas Pepe.
The Gunners were linked to the Ivorian earlier in the season but his impressive displays for Lille in Ligue 1 have seen his market value soar.
Football.London says that Pepe now appears to be “out of the Gunners reach”, with Bayern Munich expected to sign the winger shortly.
New deal for Welbeck?
Sky Sports reports that Gunners boss Emery will “consider handing Danny Welbeck a new contract”.
The striker broke his right ankle last November but is “progressing very well” as he bids to return to training before the end of the season.
Out of contract this summer, it had been expected that the 28-year-old would leave the Emirates when his deal expires.
Premier League results, fixtures and TV guide
Results Tuesday 2 April
- Watford 4 Fulham 1
- Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Manchester United 1
FixturesWednesday 3 April
- Chelsea vs. Brighton and Hove Albion (7.45pm)
- Manchester City vs. Cardiff City (7.45pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Tottenham Hotspur vs. Crystal Palace (7.45pm)
Friday 5 April
- Southampton vs. Liverpool (8pm, live on Sky Sports)
Saturday 6 April
- AFC Bournemouth vs. Burnley (3pm)
- Huddersfield Town vs. Leicester City (3pm)
- Newcastle United vs. Crystal Palace (3pm)
Sunday 7 April
- Everton vs. Arsenal (2.05pm, live on Sky Sports)
Monday 8 April
- Chelsea vs. West Ham United (8pm, live on Sky Sports)
FA Cup semi-final fixtures
Saturday 6 April
- Manchester City vs. Brighton and Hove Albion (5.30pm, live on BBC One)
Sunday 7 April
- Watford vs. Wolves (4pm, live on BT Sport)
