Mangala on the radar
Arsenal have been scouting VfB Stuttgart midfield ace Orel Mangala.
The 21-year-old has caught the eye in the Bundesliga this season and the Daily Express reports that Arsenal boss Unai Emery has apparently sent his scouts to watch him in action.
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 Belgium Under-21 international has also been tracked by Lyon, Marseille, Lille and Roma and as a result Stuttgart have upped his asking price to £26m.
That sum will be well within the Gunners’s range if, as expected, they offload Granit Xhaka in January.
Milan have eyes only for Torreira
But if Xhaka does leave the Emirates in the new year it won’t be to AC Milan, contrary to the rumours that began surfacing at the weekend.
Italian publication Tuttosport claims that Milan have cooled their interest in the stroppy Swiss star, but they are still interested in Lucas Torreira.
The unsettled South American is allegedly desperate to leave London and return to Italy, and it’s believed that Arsenal are ready to grant his wish providing that Milan are ready to pay close to the €30m (£25.7m) they gave to Sampdoria for Torreira in the summer of 2018.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues for £6–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Gunners eye Demiral
Arsenal are “monitoring” Juventus defender Merih Demiral, says turkish-football.com.
The 21-year-old is also being watched by Atletico Madrid, but the Gunners are believed to be leading the race.
Turkish international Demiral was first linked to Arsenal in October and the rumours suggest that the north London club are ready to meet Juve’s asking price of £34m.
The strapping six-footer is a no-nonense blocker and Emery believes he can bring some much needed steel to the shambolic Arsenal defence.
Zakaria transfer tussle
Manchester United and Arsenal could be gearing up for what the Daily Star describes as a “transfer battle” for Denis Zakaria.
Liverpool are unlikely to make a play for the Borussia Monchengladbach star and that has left the field open for their Premier League rivals.
The Swiss midfielder has been in sparkling form this season and the Star says that it’s the defensive aspect of his game that has impressed Arsenal boss Emery.
Today’s back pages
Raheem Sterling has the hump, but he’ll start in Kosovo
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues for £6–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
-
Music reviews: Chance the Rapper, Cass McCombs, and Molly TuttleFeature "Star Line," "Interior Live Oak," and "So Long Little Miss Sunshine"
-
Film reviews: Eden and Honey Don't!Feature Seekers of a new utopia spiral into savagery and a queer private eye prowls a high-desert town
-
Critics' choice: Three chefs fulfilling their ambitionsFeature Kwame Onwuachi's grand second act, Travis Lett makes a comeback, and Jeff Watson's new Korean restaurant
-
How do new stadiums affect football clubs?In the Spotlight Everton's decision to move its men's team out of Goodison Park could be a catalyst for vital change, but there are cautionary tales too
-
Liverpool's Anfield redemption: how did they do it?Talking Point Arne Slot's blueprint and standout player performances guide the Reds to record 20th league title
-
Where are all the English football managers?Talking Point Eddie Howe's Carabao Cup success underlines absence of homegrown coaching talent in the Premier League
-
New Trafford: can it fix Manchester United's footballing problems?Talking Point Plan for £2 billion stadium despite staff job losses and lack of success on the pitch
-
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
-
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
-
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium earlyTalking Point The belief that 'true fans stay to the end' does not always apply
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden bootfeature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
