Gunners hopeful of Sokratis deal
With new boss Unai Emery now embedded at the Emirates, transfer rumours about the Gunners are flying thick and fast.
ESPN claims that Arsenal are hoping to secure the transfer centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Borussia Dortmund any day now.
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The two clubs are reportedly “negotiating the details of a deal”, with an inside source telling the sports news network that Dortmund are demanding £16m for the 29-year-old Greece international.
Turkish delight for Arsenal?
ESPN also reports that Arsenal are quietly confident of prising right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner from Juventus on a free transfer. The 34-year-old veteran is highly rated by Emery - as is a defender at the other end of the age range.
According to talkSPORT, Arsenal are hot on the heels of Freiburg centre-back Caglar Soyuncu. The broadcaster says that the club sent scouts to Turkey on Monday to watch the 22-year-old centre-back in action for his country against Iran in a friendly match.
Asked about the interest from north London, Soyuncu said: “Arsenal are one of the most important clubs in England. I know they’re interested in me, but there’s nothing finalised yet about my transfer. After the national team camp we’ll have talks.”
A fight with the Foxes for Srarfi
Turning to Tunisians, Goal.com says that borh Arsenal and Leicester are interested in Bassem Srarfi. The Nice winger is believed to be on the Foxes’ radar as they prepare to wave goodbye to Riyad Mahrez at the King Power Stadium.
It seems that along with the Arsenal spies in Turkey on Monday, club scouts were also despatched to Braga to watch the 20-year-old Srarfi in action for Tunisia against Portugal.
Tussle with Toffees for Torreira
The Daily Mirror claims that Arsenal are “weighing up a deal for Sampdoria midfielder Lucas Torreira”, but that they face competition from Everton for the 22-year-old South American.
Torreira has earned a spot in Uruguay’s World Cup squad on the back of his consistency in Serie A this season, and Juventus and Napoli have apparently been tracking the young playmaker of late.
But the Mirror quotes Italian sources as saying that Arsenal and Everton are “both keen on the idea of bringing Torreira to the Premier League”, and that his £22m release clause poses no problem for either side.
