Arsenal transfer news: Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Meunier, Radu, Nandez, Boateng
Unai Emery’s priority is to get rid of Mesut Ozil - even if it means buying out the playmaker’s contract
Ozil on his way out
Unai Emery is out to take an axe to his under-performing Arsenal squad - and Mesut Ozil is first in line for the chop, according to reports.
Playmaker Ozil was at his disinterested worst in last week’s Europa League final humiliation against Chelsea, strengthening Emery’s resolve to persuade Arsenal to sell the German this summer, says the Daily Mirror.
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.
The newspaper claims the Spanish boss will sit down with the Arsenal board this week to thrash out what he needs to bring back the glory days to the Emirates Stadium.
Emery’s priority is to get rid of Ozil, and the German’s £270,000-per-week salary, but he also wants to offload midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan and defender Skhodran Mustafi in order to free up funds to bring in flesh blood.
But with Ozil said to be determined to see out the remaining years of his lucrative contract, Emery is expected to tell the board that they might have to “resort to buying out the remaining two years” of Ozil’s deal, the Mirror adds.
Meunier contact
As for which players Emery wants to bring on board, the Daily Mail reports that he is “determined” to beat Manchester United to the signing of Thomas Meunier.
The talented right-back is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain, and United are believed to have sounded out the French champions over the possibility of £22m move.
Emery, who knows the defender from his time coaching PSG, has also “contacted him personally in an effort to convince him to join the Gunners”, according to the newspaper.
It’s believed that Emery is ready to offer the 27-year-old Belgian a five-year contract in a bid to lure him to the Emirates.
Gunners after gloveman
There has also been contact between Arsenal and Inter Milan goalkeeper Andrei Radu. Football.London says that Emery sees the 22-year-old - currently on loan at Genoa from Inter Milan - as the man to fill the void left by Petr Cech.
The Romanian’s representative, Crescenzo Cecere, told FC Inter News that there has been an Arsenal enquiry and “it is a very interesting prospect since he is growing a lot, from all points of view”.
Argentine ace targeted
Arsenal “are plotting to raid South America” in a bid to replace Juventus-bound Aaron Ramsey, reports the Daily Star.
The paper says that Emery has drawn up a shopping list of potential buys from the continent, with Boca Juniors star Nahitan Nandez as his top target.
The 23-year-old has been blazing a trail in Argentina this year, and Leeds had hoped to sign him if they made the Premier League. But that dream died, leaving Arsenal circling the Uruguayan international, who is believed to like the idea of forming a midfield partnership with compatriot Lucas Torreira.
Boateng to snub Prem clubs
Bayern Munich have told Jerome Boateng that he can leave the club.
The German defender is linked with Arsenal and Manchester United, The Sun reports, but the former Manchester City star is not keen on a return to the Premier League.
Boateng, 30, would prefer a move to Juventus or PSG.
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
-
'The Hum': the real-life noise behind The Listeners
In The Spotlight Can some of us also hear the disturbing sound that plagues characters in the hit TV show – and where is it coming from?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Are we any closer to identifying UFOs?
Podcast Plus, will deals with Tunisia and Kurdistan help Labour? And what next for the Wagner Group?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 16 - 22 November
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff 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
-
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
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published