Emery is keen on Klostermann
Having signed veteran Swiss defender Stephan Lichtsteiner on a free transfer earlier in the week, Arsenal are now looking to youth, reports the Daily Mirror, as their back four rebuilding continues.
According to the paper the Gunners are poised to swoop for Lukas Klostermann, a “powerful full-back” for RB Leipzig. German daily Bild says that the 22-year-old has caught the eye of Unai Emery and the strapping six-footer will soon be on his way to the Emirates.
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 signing of 34-year-old Lichtsteiner will bring some much needed cool-headed experience to the Arsenal defence, and Emery wants the Swiss to impart his knowledge to the likes of Klostermann, who has represented Germany in the Olympics but has yet to win a full senior cap.
Gunners fail to get Gelson
Arsenal have come a cropper in their attempt to prise winger Gelson Martins from Sporting Lisbon, reports Metro.
Apparently the Gunners tabled a £26m bid for the 23-year-old wide man but were knocked back by the Portuguese club. Martins, who has also attracted interest from Manchester United and Liverpool, is said to be “unhappy” at the turn of events.
Quoting Portuguese publication A Bola, Metro says the deal could yet happen but only if Arsenal up their offer to £39m, which is what Sporting believe he is worth.
One reason why Martins allegedly wants to leave the club - other than the prospect of playing in the Europa League next season - is the turbulent end to Sporting’s season that saw club president Bruno de Carvalho threaten to suspend 19 players if they didn’t start pulling their socks up.
A fight for Fellaini
Just days after rumours linked Arsenal with wantaway Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini, Italian outlet calciomercato.it says that Ajax are now closing in on the Belgian powerhouse.
Apparently Fellaini has been given a tour of the Dutch club’s facilities and his representatives have held preliminary talks with Ajax officials.
No proposal has yet been tabled but it’s claimed their interest is genuine, although it’s not known if Ajax are willing to meet the big man’s eye-watering wage demands of £120,000 a week plus a signing-on fee.
The Sun says that Arsenal are unlikely to sign Fellaini unless he lowers his price and that might have encouraged Ajax as long as they can rustle up the readies.