Arsenal transfer news: Malcom, Juan Mata, Aaron Ramsey, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Malcom to the Emirates?

Malcom has denied rumours that he wants to leave Barcelona in January as speculation increases that the Brazilian winger is eyeing a move to Arsenal.

The Daily Star says that the 21-year-old South American is “unhappy about his lack of first-team football since joining Barcelona” and that has led to an approach from the Gunners.

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With the rumours rife in Spain, Malcom has been forced to address them in a message to his fans on Instagram.

“I want to clarify this: I came to Barcelona with many objectives, and those who know me know that I am a very determined person,” he wrote. Adding that he is “very happy with the evolution in my career”, he also said his family were enjoying life in the Spanish city.

A fee of £36m

But will that declaration be enough to dampen the speculation? According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Malcom “has asked to leave in January if the situation doesn’t change”. If that is the case Barcelona will look to recoup the £36m they forked out for the wideman when they bought him from Bordeaux this summer.

Spanish bromance

Juan Mata has lavished praise on Arsenal manager Unai Emery and that has prompted the Daily Express to claim that the Manchester United maestro “could make a shock switch to the Gunners”.

Mata, 30, is out of contract at Old Trafford at the end of the season and he is yet to commit his future, despite what the Express describes as “the club’s best efforts to tie him down”.

Mata to replace Ramsey?

Apparently Emery is an unabashed admirer of Mata and he is ready to sign him on a free if Aaron Ramsey leaves the Emirates when his contract expires in June.

Mata and Emery worked together at Valencia and in a new biography about the Arsenal boss, Mata says: “I think what’s special about Unai is the way he communicates… sometimes it was five phrases or metaphors he was going to explain. I’ve never seen that with my other managers.”

As for Ramsey, Sky Sports claim that the Welsh midfielder is definitely leaving the Emirates in June after the club “told him in person” that he will not be offered a new contract.

Aubameyang’s antics

Former Borussia Dortmund boss Peter Stoger has told German daily Bild why he was forced to sell Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the start of this year.

The Gabon international scored 98 goals in 144 Bundesliga games for Dortmund, but he jumped ship to the Emirates in January in a £56m deal.

Now Stoger, who was the boss of Dortmund between December and May last season, has said he had no alternative but to offload Aubameyang.

“To underline his wish for a transfer, he skipped team meetings before games or refused to run during the final training,” explained Stoger. “We did our best to keep him for at least another half a year, but Auba wasn’t ready for that. He left me no other choice.”