REAL SOCIEDAD’s president has spoken as Arsenal close in on the £30m signing of Mikel Merino.
Aaron Ramsdale is heading for the exit with talks underway with Wolves for the England goalkeeper.
The Gunners are eyeing gold medal-winning Spaniard Joan Garcia, who plays for La Liga side Espanyol, as his replacement.
And Arsenal have reportedly REJECTED a £25million bid for Eddie Nketiah.
Multiple Premier League clubs are eyeing up a move for the Arsenal striker.
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Neville reveals ‘Player to watch’ this season
Gary Neville has revealed that Jurrien Timber is the ‘Player to Watch’ this season.
He told Sky Sports: “Last season, I was looking forward to him coming to Arsenal & adding defensive stability to the squad.
“They did that anyway without him. I think the fact that he’s been out for so long, it will be interesting to see.
“Obviously Arsenal haven’t made a lot of additions to their squad this year, so he feels like a new addition. I would just like to see him play & see how he fits in.”
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Carragher sends Arsenal trophy warning
Jamie Carragher believes it would be unacceptable if Arsenal did not win a trophy this season.
He told Sky Sports: “My point on Arsenal and why I still think City is that Arsenal are one of the top clubs in the country.
“But in the last couple of years when they have gone from the league they have gone out from the domestic cups quite early and haven’t got to a final or a semi-final in Europe.
“I think this group of players are good enough that they should be getting to the semis of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup and attacking all the competitions in the way Man City do and Liverpool did in the past under Jurgen Klopp.
“I don’t think it’s acceptable now for a team this good not to win a trophy this season.”
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Ramsdale deal could go to deadline day
Aaron Ramsdale’s proposed move to Wolves is far from a done deal according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook.
He provided an update saying: “We know that Wolves have got an offer of a loan deal with an option to buy on the table.
“That hasn’t been rejected yet, but I am told by sources close to Ramsdale that there’s a long way to go in that one.
“Southampton like him as well, and so do Nottingham Forest, so I think certainly he is one we are going to be talking about a lot in the next 10 days or so.”
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Nketiah demands big wages to leave
Nottingham Forest will have to make Eddie Nketiah their highest-paid player to tempt him away from Arsenal.
Nketiah earns £120,000-a-week at the Emirates Stadium and is not willing to take a pay cut despite being an unused substitute in the Gunners’ opening day win over Wolves.
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Arsenal received Eddie Nketiah blow
Arsenal have suffered a new transfer blow with Crystal Palace reportedly no longer in club-to-club talks to sign their striker Eddie Nketiah.
Palace, Nottingham Forest, AFC Bournemouth, Everton and French side Marseille have all been mentioned as having varying degrees of interest in the 25-year-old.
Arsenal would prefer an outright sale – but they appear to be running low on options at the moment – with Forest seeming to be the only possible destination.
That’s because Palace are no longer involved in any form of club-to-club talks for Nketiah, according to The Athletic, despite claims the Eagles still ‘retain interest’.
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Arsenal must sell to meet rules
Arsenal are ready to ship out players to balance the books as they close in on Mikel Merino.
After a £21.5million offer was snubbed, the Gunners are preparing a £30m package to seal a deal.
But they are aware of their Premier League rivals falling foul of profitability and sustainability rules, so are looking to offset the purchase with a “major sale”, claim The Athletic.
Nottingham Forest are chasing a move for Eddie Nketiah, with Arsenal wanting at least £30m to sanction an exit.
While Wolves have offered to take Aaron Ramsdale on loan with an option to buy next summer.
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Zinchenko tips team-mate to become manager
Oleksandr Zinchenko believes Jorginho is the most likely player from the current squad to become a manager.
He said of his team-mate in an interview with Arsenal.com: “At the moment I would say the guy in the squad who would make the best manager in future is Jorginho. He has the best football brain.
“Everything he says really works, and I learn from him as well.”
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Arsenal target in Prem talks
Man Utd have made an offer to sign Juventus star Federico Chiesa, according to Spanish outlet Sport.
Barcelona are also keen on the Italian, who Arsenal tried to sign earlier this summer.
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Jeff Stelling questions Ramsdale transfer
Jeff Stelling has questioned why Arsenal want to let Aaron Ramsdale leave for Wolves.
He said on talkSPORT: “He has done nothing wrong. He is a good goalkeeper and we all accept that.
“He deserves and he is good enough to be playing in the Premier League for a decent side.
“He has been linked with Wolves, I get that completely. The question for Arsenal is you can’t go into a season just having a number one goalkeeper, you need a quality back-up as well.
“Have they got that now? I honestly don’t know.”
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More on Merino transfer situation
Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay has confirmed that talks are underway with the Gunners and a deal is possible.
Per Chris Wheatley, he said: “Unfortunately, one of the teams we didn’t want to show up showed up [Arsenal].
“When we consider that the offer is good, we will say yes.
“We know what Merino’s wishes are, so we decided not to call him up [to the squad].”
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Romano offers Merino transfer update
Arsenal have been chasing midfielder Mikel Merino for several weeks but it appears they are set to get their man.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano offered an updated on the situation, saying: ““Let me tell you here guys. Do not worry Arsenal fans, Merino is coming and he is coming very soon.
“They are sorting the final details of the deal, but Merino is fully expected to become an Arsenal player in the final 10 or 11 days of the summer transfer window.”
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Toney’s agent wants Arsenal move
Ivan Toney’s agent wants the in-demand Brentford striker to sign for Arsenal this summer, according to former Premier League manager Alan Pardew.
He told talkSPORT: “Let me tell you. I know Toney’s agent personally, and I think he would like the boy to go to Arsenal. There you go, there’s a bit of insight.
“I know that he thought that might be a good fit for the boy when I had a discussion.”
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Deeney praises Arsenal talisman
Troy Deeney was full of praise for Bukayo Saka in his first BBC Team of the Week of the season.
He said of he winger: “I worked on Arsenal’s win against Wolves for Talksport and Saka was immense.
“He ran them ragged. They couldn’t live with him. He scored a great goal and his assist for Kai Havertz was perfect as well. Great cross, assist and goal.”
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Neville predicts Gunners title charge
Arsenal narrowly missed out on the title once again last season but Neville believes they will finally beat Manchester City to the league this year.
He told Sky Sports: “They’re just getting better, they’re getting nearer, and I don’t know, I feel they’ll do it.
“I feel they’ll do it at a certain point. And look, you can never be 100 per cent because of what Pep Guardiola does. He wins all the time.
“But I feel Arsenal getting so close, and they’re so consistent that this could be the year.”
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Carragher tips Arsenal to break record
Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal will set a record this season by becoming the first team to improve their points tally five years in a row.
Arsenal finished with 89 points last season, five better than their total in 2023.
In 2022 they collected 69 points while finishing in fifth place.
And in 2021 Arsenal came eighth with 61 points.
Interestingly, in 2020 Arsenal finished eighth again, but with a lower points total of 56.
Carragher said: “Something that’s interesting about Arsenal, no team in Premier League history has improved their position five years in a row.
“Arsenal have done it four years in a row, and to go beyond where they did last year is going to be tough.”
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Gunners target Olympic gold medallist
Arsenal could sign Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia if Aaron Ramsdale leaves, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Ramsdale lost his place to David Raya last season and is subject to a loan bid from Wolves which could be made into a permanent transfer.
The Gunners reportedly have a verbal agreement in place with Garcia, who was part of Spain’s Olympic-winning squad.
He has a buyout clause of £25million.
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Arsenal told to sign Toney
Arsenal have been urged to sign Ivan Toney by former Premier League manager Alan Pardew.
The ex-Newcastle boss told talkSPORT: “Let me tell you, I know Ivan Toney’s agent personally & I think he would like the boy to go to Arsenal.
“There you go, there’s a bit of insight. I know that he thought that might be a good fit for the boy.”
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Toney move
Brentford are keen to sell Ivan Toney before the weekend and are likely to accept £45million for the wantaway striker.
SunSport also understands that Chelsea could be tempted into a late swoop for the England international.
Toney was left out of the matchday squad for the Bees’ opening weekend win over Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Brentford had valued him at around £70million at the start of the summer as he entered the final year of his contract.
Arsenal had been amongst the clubs to be linked with a move for Toney earlier in the window.
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Arsenal reject Nketiah bid
In case you missed it, Arsenal have rejected a £25million bid for Eddie Nketiah from Nottingham Forest.
According to The Athletic, talks are continuing between the two clubs.
Nketiah is valued at between £30million and £35million by the Gunners and is Forest’s top striker target.
Crystal Palace are also said to be interested but no talks have been held with Arsenal.
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Arsenal’s next five
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Partey update
Thomas Partey is “not expected” to leave Arsenal this summer, according to CaughtOffside.
The Gunners were open to allowing the midfielder leave but they have not received any offers deemed suitable.
There are reports the Ghana international have received interest from Saudi Arabia but nothing have been finalised as of yet.
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Arsenal told to sign Toney
Arsenal have been urged to sign Ivan Toney by former Premier League manager Alan Pardew.
The ex-Newcastle boss told talkSPORT: “Let me tell you, I know Ivan Toney’s agent personally & I think he would like the boy to go to Arsenal.
“There you go, there’s a bit of insight. I know that he thought that might be a good fit for the boy.”
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Arsenal 24/25 fixtures
Arsenal have a tricky start to the season -
Toney move
Brentford are keen to sell Ivan Toney before the weekend and are likely to accept £45million for the wantaway striker.
SunSport also understands that Chelsea could be tempted into a late swoop for the England international.
Toney was left out of the matchday squad for the Bees’ opening weekend win over Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Brentford had valued him at around £70million at the start of the summer as he entered the final year of his contract.
Arsenal had been amongst the clubs to be linked with a move for Toney earlier in the window.
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BREAKING: Arsenal reject Nketiah bid
Arsenal have rejected a £25million bid for Eddie Nketiah from Nottingham Forest.
According to The Athletic, talks are continuing between the two clubs.
Nketiah is valued at between £30million and £35million by the Gunners and is Forest’s top striker target.
Crystal Palace are also said to be interested but no talks have been held with Arsenal.
Credit: Getty
