In pursuit of Pavon
If Arsenal want to land Boca Juniors winger Cristian Pavon it will cost the Premier League club a fee of £40m.
Apparently the Gunners have the 22-year-old Argentine “in their sights for the New Year” and The Sun says an approach has already been made to Boca.
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But any hopes Arsenal boss Unai Emery had of landing the South American on the cheap have been dashed by Boca’s demand for a “sky-high” fee.
Hamstring trouble has handicapped him of late but that hasn’t deterred Emery who believes Pavon’s pace could be a major asset in the second half of the season, particularly as Arsenal showed a worrying lack of creativity in Sunday’s 3-2 defeat at Southampton.
Fulham have also expressed an interest in the Argentine international but it’s Arsenal who are in pole position to sign Pavon. The Sun says that despite Boca’s exorbitant demand they are “braced for a bid close to their asking price”.
Suarez on the cheap?
If Arsenal do fail in their bid to prise Pavon from Boca might they turn instead to Barcelona star Denis Suarez?
The Independent and The Sun both claim that the midfielder, who has been frozen out at the Camp Nou this season, is desperate to relaunch his career outside Barcelona. That gets the green light from the Spanish giants who, so the Sun says, are ready to offload Suarez.
The Gunners have been alerted to his availability and could bag the 24-year-old for a “cut-price £14m”.
Emery knows Suarez well from their time together at Sevilla a few seasons ago and the Arsenal gaffer is apparently ready to “take a punt” when the transfer window opens in a fortnight.
Arsenal edging Spurs for Under
Arsenal play Tottenham on Wednesday in the League Cup quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium but have they already scored one victory over their north London rivals?
Reports from Italy claim that Emery is poised to beat Spurs to the hand of Roma winger Cengiz Under. According to Corriere dello Sport, Spurs have failed in their attempt to lure the 21-year-old Turkey international from the Italian capital.
Arsenal, however, are confident they will persuade Roma to part with Under after submitting a £29m bid. The deal could be concluded by early January.
Premier League results
Weekend results
- Manchester City 3 Everton 1
- Crystal Palace 1 Leicester City 0
- Huddersfield Town 0 Newcastle United 1
- Tottenham Hotspur 1 Burnley 0
- Watford 3 Cardiff City 2
- Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 AFC Bournemouth 0
- Fulham 0 West Ham United 2
- Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Chelsea 2
- Southampton 3 Arsenal 2
- Liverpool 3 Manchester United 1
Premier League fixtures
Friday 21 December
- Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Liverpool (8pm)
Saturday 22 December (3pm unless stated)
- Arsenal vs. Burnley (12.30pm)
- AFC Bournemouth vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
- Chelsea vs. Leicester City
- Huddersfield Town vs. Southampton
- Manchester City vs. Crystal Palace
- Newcastle United vs. Fulham
- West Ham United vs. Watford
- Cardiff City vs. Manchester United (5.30pm)
Sunday 23 December
- Everton vs. Tottenham Hotspur (4pm)