Arsenal transfer news: Ever Banega, Cristian Pavon, Petr Cech
New head of football Raul Sanllehi aiming to clinch Argentine transfer double
Bag Banega
Arsenal are after Ever Banega, according to an exclusive in The Sun. Unai Emery knows the Argentine international well from his time at Sevilla and is said to be keen for a reunion with the midfielder.
The newspaper reports that Raul Sanllehi thinks that clinching the deal would be a great way to kick off his new role as Arsenal’s head of football following Ivan Gazidis’s departure to AC Milan.
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.
According to Spanish sources, 30-year-old Banega “has an £18m buy-out clause” if the Gunners wish to prise him from his current deal, which expires at the end of next season.
That could happen as soon as January, with Emery aware that Banega may not have many playing years left.
Sanllehi targets Pavon
Another Argentine star to have caught Sanllehi’s eye is Boca Juniors winger Cristian Pavon. Football.London reports that Sanllehi has already held talks with Boca about the 22-year-old.
Pavon has “established himself as a fan favourite” at Boca, says The Sun, and is reportedly also a target for Manchester City.
Cech faces uncertain future
Petr Cech has admitted he is playing for his future at Arsenal, reports Sky Sports. The veteran goalkeeper says he is feeling the heat from Bernd Leno following an indifferent start to the season with the Gunners.
Leno to start?
Cech, 36, has started all of Arsenal’s Premier League games this season but he has looked unsure at times under Emery’s new approach.
That’s led to calls in some quarters for the selection of Leno, who arrived at the Emirates in the summer in a £19.2m move from Bayer Leverkusen.
Leno is expected to get his chance tonight when Arsenal play Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava in the Europa League.
A good performance from the 26-year-old will only increase the pressure on Cech, who has yet to be offered a contract extension, with less than 12 months remaining on his current deal.
See what happens
Asked if he expected to sign a new deal with the Gunners, Cech said: “I’m in the last year of the contract so I guess it depends on my performances, the way I play and the way I stay fit throughout the season, then we’ll see what happens next.”
Cech saw off competition from Colombian keeper David Ospina in recent seasons for the No. 1 shirt and says he has no problem with the challenge from Leno.
“When you bring players in, you do that to improve the squad and to make it competitive and Bernd is here, trains every day and tries to get his spot, which keeps everyone in the goalkeeping group on their toes including me,” he said.
“I have to work hard not only to make sure the manager picks me for the weekend but as well that he sticks with me.”
Complicated
Admitting that the goalkeeper situation at the Gunners is “complicated”, Cech continued: “Only one can play, so the competition is bigger. At the moment I’ve been playing and I try to do my best and hope the manager is happy with my performances.
“In sport this is the way it goes - you always have someone waiting for your failure so they can jump in and you have to find a way to keep your spot.”
According to the Daily Mirror, Leno for Cech will be one of a number of changes made by Emery for tonight’s Europa League opener, with Mohamed Elneny, Danny Welbeck and Stephan Lichtsteiner all expected to start for the Gunners.
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 mental health crisis affecting vets
Under The Radar Death of Hampshire vet highlights mental health issues plaguing the industry
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Onion is having a very ironic laugh with Infowars
The Explainer The satirical newspaper is purchasing the controversial website out of bankruptcy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Rahmbo, back from Japan, will be looking for a job? Really?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US 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