Arsenal transfer news: Tierney, Zaha, Koscielny, Torreira, Carrasco, Nkunku

Tempted by Tierney

Arsenal are in talks with Celtic to sign Scotland defender Kieran Tierney.

According to BBC Sport, there is “optimism” at the Emirates that a deal will be reached this month despite the Gunners’ initial bid of £15m being rejected by the Scottish champions.

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The Times claims that Arsenal have now made a second offer for the 22-year-old but it is “still some way short of the £25m valuation placed on the player by the Celtic CEO Peter Lawwell”.

Everton and Napoli are also interested in Tierney and the Glasgow outfit are confident that their asking price will be met or even exceeded should a bidding war break out.

Koscielny close to exit?

It could be a case of one defender in and one defender out with the Daily Star reporting that Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny is being courted by both Lyon and Borussia Dortmund.

The veteran centre-back has struggled with injuries in recent seasons and with his powers on the wane it could be a wise move on Arsenal’s part to cash in on the 33-year-old.

The Star claims that Lyon are leading the race to sign Koscielny and they’ve offered the defender a two-year deal.

As for a likely asking price, the Star says that Arsenal “are demanding £10m”, although the paper goes on to state that Gunners boss Unai Emery could yet perform a volte-face and offer Koscielny a new deal.

Torreira linked to Milan

If Metro has its facts right, then Laurent Koscielny won’t be the only Gunner going through the exit door imminently.

Also on his way out is Lucas Torreira after AC Milan tabled their first offer for the Uruguayan midfielder. Apparently the Gunners are weighing up the bid, conscious of the fact that Torreira “prefers life in Italy”.

He arrived in London last year from Sampdoria, and although he started brightly his performances faded as the season wore on.

According to Metro - citing Italy’s Sport Mediaset as its source - Milan “have made a two-year loan offer for Torreira worth up to £7m and includes a £34m right-to-buy option that would be paid in one installment”.

Carrasco confusion

The future of Yannick Carrasco remains shrouded in uncertainty, reports the Daily Express, despite strong suggestions earlier in the month that he was Arsenal-bound.

Not so, says the paper, which quotes Dalian Yifang manager Cui Kangxi as saying that the Belgian star is going nowhere.

The 25-year-old has gone public with his wish to return to Europe after 18 months in Asia, and it appears relations have soured between Carrasco and his club, the former being fined after his late return to China from international duty last week.

That led him to criticise the “incomprehensible” attitude of some of the club’s staff.

For the moment Dalian Yifang are refusing to countenance offloading Carrasco, although the Express says they could let him go if Arsenal stump up £30m.

Nkunku an alternative?

If the fee for Yannick Carrasco is too much for the cash-strapped Gunners, then they could settle for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Christian Nkunku.

The Daily Mirror reports that the French champions have told Arsenal he’s theirs for a modest £13.5m.

French publication L’Equipe adds that RB Leipzig are also interested in the 21-year-old.

Break the bank for Zaha

The Sun reports that Arsenal boss Unai Emery will ask the club’s board to “break the bank” for Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha.

Emery has only been given a reported £45m to spend this summer, but the Sun says that he will push for more cash to sign his No.1 target Zaha.

Ivory Coast international Zaha, who was a boyhood Arsenal fan, is expected to cost at least £55m.