Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Gunners keen on £40m Abraham, US tour CANCELLED, Lokonga move CONFIRMED, Max Aarons race

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HOUSS THAT

Arsenal are tracking Houssem Aouar this summer and could make a move for the Frenchman.

The Gunners had a bid rejected for the 23-year-old last summer, but could get him for cheaper this time round.

Man Utd, Tottenham and Liverpool are also keeping an eye on Aouar.

NO DEAL

Arsenal will not sign highly rated Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma this summer.

According to Dean Jones, signing Bissouma is now ‘out of the window’.

 Journalist Jones said: "Someone I spoke to a couple of days ago and I said ‘where are we at with Arsenal?'

"Most of the focus was spoken on Aaron Ramsdale. How they were trying to get that done.

"What their limitations were on it. The midfield is a big situation really. 

“I think Bissouma is out of the window now. That’s not going to happen.”

DREAM TEAM

Make sure to create your very own Dream Team for the upcoming 2021/22 Premier League season!

MERSON'S THOUGHTS

Ex Arsenal player Paul Merson has shared where he think Arsenal will be hovering in the Premier League table this season.

And the ex-pro believes the gulf in class will see the Gunners finish just outside the top four.

Speaking to Sportskeeda, Merson said: "There’s a big gulf of class between the top four sides in the Premier League and the rest.

"So the title race could boil down to who wins the mini-league between Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea.

“There is another mini-league involving Arsenal, Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton that could decide the rest of the European spots.

“I can’t see any of the bottom half teams getting points from the top four in the 2021-22 Premier League season.

“I’d be really shocked if that were to be the case.”

TAV THAT

Relive Nuno Tavares' first goal for Arsenal against Rangers in pre-season!

Tidy finish by the left-back.

GUNNER SWAP

Arsenal are prepared to offer Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles as part of a deal to lure Leicester star James Maddison to the Emirates, writes DYLAN TERRY.

The Gunners have been linked with the Foxes playmaker as a replacement for Martin Odegaard, who returned to Real Madrid at the end of last season following his loan spell.

And the Gunners have identified Maddison as the perfect fit, leading them to offer Nelson and Maitland-Niles as add-ons in a possible deal.

The Arsenal duo have failed to establish themselves as anything more than fringe players in north London.

According to The Mail, Arsenal believe Leicester are willing to negotiate with them.

However, it is also thought that Brendan Rodgers' side are seeking to secure no less than a huge cash sum for the creative midfielder.

XHAK AXED?

Granit Xhaka is reportedly on his way out of Arsenal this summer, with Jose Mourinho's Roma interested.

The midfielder had a good Euro 2020 with Switzerland, helping them beat France on penalties in the Round of 16.

MORNING, ARSENAL FANS

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is busily trying to add to his squad this summer.

The Gunners have already brought in two fresh faces, with Nuno Tavares joined by midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga this week.

Upon arriving, the Belgian said: “It’s a big move because I have been playing for Anderlecht for 10 years so it’s going to be my first big move to another country.

“It’s a big step, but I feel confident because we have to be.

“In the football world, you have to feel confident about yourself, but I’m looking to play in this league and I can’t wait to start”

The new duo are set to be joined at Arsenal by a further flurry of new faces, with Brighton ace Ben White set to be next.

The £50million star could have his Gunners medical this week, with a deal said to be close.

And he could be joined by the likes of James Maddison and Houssem Aouar.

There will be outgoings, however, with Hector Bellerin odds on to depart and Granit Xhaka’s move to Roma edging closer.

Away from transfer news, the Gunners’ pre-season plans have been thrown into chaos, with positive Covid cases in the camp seeing them cancel their pre-season trip to Florida.

Arsenal had been due to play in a tournament featuring Inter Milan, Everton and Millonarios.

But The Athletic report that they are now seeking alternative plans.

ARSENAL TIPPED TO WIN ABRAHAM RACE

Chelsea are prepared to let Tammy Abraham join Arsenal on loan to speed through a deal.

The Gunners are emerging as the favourites in the three-way chase for the out-of-favour striker.

Arsenal’s London rivals Tottenham and West Ham are also keen to sign the England star who has failed to win over new Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.

Chelsea are demanding around £40million for Abraham but the fee is proving a sticking point for any suitors.

A loan deal with an obligation to buy should the player reach a pre-set amount of appearances look like being an ideal compromise.

It would also take Abraham’s wages of around £80,000 a week off the wage bill to help with financing plans in other areas of the squad.

ICYMI - XHAKA CLOSE

Arsenal star Granit Xhaka is edging closer to a long-anticipated move to Roma.

That is according to Fabrizio Romano, who claims personal terms have been agreed between Xhaka and the Giallorossi.

Romano reports that the midfielder has agreed terms with the Serie A giants and wants to get the deal done as soon as possible.

Arsenal are ready to sell the Switzerland international after signing Albert Sambi Lokonga.

BRIT TASTY

Joe Joyce has challenged the winner of the Anthony Joshua versus Oleksandr Usyk fight to a scrap at the home of his beloved Arsenal.

The Gunners fan must first get past wily veteran Carlos Takam on July 24 - but is already eyeing a potential Battle of Britain.

And it is a fight that SHOULD happen - Joyce has been named as the WBO's mandatory challenger for the belt currently held by Joshua.

His promoter Frank Warren uploaded a shot of Joyce in his Arsenal shirt outside The Emirates.

It was captioned: "When they’re done with Spurs, The Juggernaut would like to invite Anthony Joshua or Alexander Usyk to his patch."

Joshua's title defence against former undisputed cruiserweight king Usyk was finally confirmed for September 25 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

LOK AT THAT

Albert Sambi Lokonga is 'confident' that he can hit the ground running at Arsenal, after joining from Anderlecht yesterday.

He told the club's website: "It's a big move because I have been playing for Anderlecht for ten years so it's going to be my first big move to another country.

“It's a big step, but I feel confident because we have to be. In the football world, you have to feel confident about yourself, but I'm looking to play in this league and I can't wait to start.”

PRE-SEASON KO

Arsenal's pre-season tour to America has been cancelled due to positive coronavirus cases within the camp.

The squad were due to fly out to Florida this week.

But The Athletic report a 'small number' of the party planning to travel have caught the virus.

A game against Inter Milan was scheduled for Sunday night in the Florida Cup.

The winners would have faced Everton or Colombian side in the final on July 28.

Arsenal kick off the new Premier League season against Brentford on August 13.

WHOLE NEW BAL GAME

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has had high praise for promoted youngsters Folarin Balogun and Arthur Okonkwo.

He told the club's website: "It is great. It is just a small step, but now the bigger step is trying to become a regular in the first team. That is a small step compared to the next step they have to take.

"That is the first thing they have to realise, the hard work is not done yet. The hard work is going to start right now, and the expectations start right now and if they have this mentality they have the potential, we believe in them and they will have the opportunities.

"Both of them are really different but at the same time very similar. They have both raised the level of the academy to a point that it wasn’t any more for them so we had to look to create the space around the first team for them to be able to develop in the way that we want them to.

"I think they are the right age and they have the space in the squad to do that and they have the hunger and they showed the desire to stay at the football club and fight to become one of the first-team regulars."

PAUL PREDICTS

Arsenal legend Paul Merson reckons that FOUR teams could win the Premier League title next season.

But the Gunners aren't one of them.

He told Sportskeeda: "Man City, United, Liverpool and Chelsea can all win the title – that’s a four-way battle for the Premier League crown and I don’t expect any of them to run away with it by a margin of double-digit points.

“In my opinion, Chelsea need a forward. I don’t know what the deal is with Erling Haaland, but they need someone who can score 20 goals a season.

“Timo Werner is a different kind of player – he’s a willing runner who works hard for the team and is very unselfish.

“However. he doesn’t strike me as someone who can score 20 goals, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens there.

“Man United have already signed Jadon Sancho, but they could do with another midfielder.

“We could witness one of the closest title races in ages, but I expect Man City to come out on top.”

IVAN SCARE

Former Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has been diagnosed with throat cancer.

But the South African insists he is 'confident' he will make a full recovery from the 'very curable' form of the disease.

He will continue in his role as CEO at AC Milan alongside his treatment at specialised clinics.

Gazidis said: "Of course, there is never a good time for a diagnosis of cancer.

"But I have a very curable form of cancer and a positive diagnosis.

"I have world-class medical expertise, and the support of so many loved ones and everyone at the club, and I am confident based on all advice that the cancer will be treated successfully, with a full recovery."

MAIN MAN

Football agent Andrea D’Amico has confirmed that Arsenal have tabled a £34million offer for Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli.

The Gunners are known to be admirers of the 23-year-old who helped Italy win Euro 2020 – their first European Championship since 1968.

But they face competition from Serie A giants Juventus, with the Old Lady believed to be the player’s preference.

However it is understood that the Turin outfit are yet to meet Sassuolo’s £34m asking price, and are instead eyeing up a swap deal.

Reports in Italian media have claimed that Massimiliano Allegri’s side are ready to offer £25m plus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli.

And Fagioli’s agent Andrea D’Amico has confirmed that both Juve and Arsenal are after Locatelli, though his client has not been included in any transfer.

MAIN MAN

Football agent Andrea D’Amico has confirmed that Arsenal have tabled a £34million offer for Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli.

The Gunners are known to be admirers of the 23-year-old who helped Italy win Euro 2020 – their first European Championship since 1968.

But they face competition from Serie A giants Juventus, with the Old Lady believed to be the player’s preference.

However it is understood that the Turin outfit are yet to meet Sassuolo’s £34m asking price, and are instead eyeing up a swap deal.

Reports in Italian media have claimed that Massimiliano Allegri’s side are ready to offer £25m plus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli.

And Fagioli’s agent Andrea D’Amico has confirmed that both Juve and Arsenal are after Locatelli, though his client has not been included in any transfer.

ART DEALER

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has praised the club's scouting department after being impressed by new recruit Nuno Tavares.

He told the Gunners' media team: "We wanted to have more strength and specific qualities in the left-back position, and we identified Nuno a while ago.

"To be fair to the scouting department, they have done brilliantly to identify a talent with the qualities that we required, at the age we required and financially it was something we can afford.

"The boy has already been pretty impressive. I think he is the right profile for what we are trying to build here."

NETTING NETO

Arsenal are reportedly stepping up their pursuit of Barcelona outcast Neto with the club aiming to strengthen their ranks.

The Brazilian goalkeeper is one of several players the Catalan giants are thought to be willing to flog this summer.

It is reported Barca are desperate to shift squad members surplus to requirements off their wage bill in a bid to clear some debts and retain Lionel Messi.

And the club’s wish to sell Neto, 32, is rumoured to be welcome news for the Gunners amid rumours of uncertainty around the future of their number one stopper Bernd Leno.

While the Germany international has two more years left on his current Emirates contract the Express claims he could leave the club if a decent offer is made.

THROWING A JAB

Football fans may have to show proof they have had two doses of Covid jabs to attend games from September.

Despite the Euro 2020 final and semi-finals attended by 60,000 supporters at Wembley, stadiums could be limited to a capacity of 16,000.

That is if transmission rates remain dangerously high with around one in six areas in England reporting record levels of coronavirus infections.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday that only those that have been fully vaccinated at events where 'large crowds gather' will be able to attend.

He remarked: "As we said last week, we do reserve the right to mandate certification at any point if it is necessary to reduce transmission.

"And I should serve notice now that by the end of September – when all over-18s will have had the chance to be double jabbed – we are planning to make full vaccination the condition of entry to nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather.

"Proof of a negative test will no longer be enough."

According to the Daily Mail, if infection rates continue to be high, this would also impact football fans.

Supporters would have to show Covid passports to prove they are fully vaccinated, with a negative test result to not be enough to gain entry.

They state that both the Premier League and EFL are seeking clarification on Johnson's comments and what this means for football.

JOR LEAVING?

Arsenal are frontrunners to sign Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.

That's according to bookmakers Coral, who've installed Mikel Arteta's side as 4/1 favourites to clinch the England international's signature.

However, the Gunners face stiff competition from Atletico Madrid, Leicester and Paris Saint-Germain.

Henderson, 31, has entered the final two years of his contract at Anfield, which expires in June 2023.

But there's been very little progress during discussions with the Merseyside club.

The Athletic claim talks over an extension are still taking place but stress that Liverpool’s owner FSG have 'bigger priorities' to address.

Those priorities include extensions for Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson.

WORK OF ART

Would you fancy this, Gunners fans?

Here is how you could line up after this summer's spending spree.

FANTASY PREMIER LEAGUE

Albert Sambi Lokonga has been added to this coming season's Fantasy Premier League.

Lokonga joined the Gunners from Anderlecht on Monday and is expected to get first-team football at the Emirates.

Manager Mikel Arteta appears to have a lot of faith in him as he sang the midfielder's praises after he put pen to paper.

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