There is plenty of talk on Arsenal in the transfer grapevine, with Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema continuing to dominate the headlines.
Here are the top five stories on the Gunners today…
SEE MORE:
Arsenal transfer gossip
Piers Morgan: Arsenal shareholder says talks with Real Madrid’s Benzema ‘at an advanced stage’
Six HUGE transfers to be completed this weekend: Benzema to Arsenal, Man Utd double deal & ANOTHER Liverpool buy
5. Arsene Wenger: Wilshere will never change his style
Jack Wilshere suffered another major setback after being ruled out for six to eight weeks following a heavy challenge in training – resulting in a cracked fibula. Wenger has admitted that the midfielder’s playing style ‘provokes’ injury, but he’ll never change his ways.
“Sometimes it is a game that provokes maybe more challenges than Gilberto Silva who just sat there deep and played, or Mesut Ozil who plays less dribbling,” as quoted by the Mirror.
“Jack is a born football brain. He’s a creative brain. He has no handbrake. But that tells him to provoke in the final third. That’s where he creates all his chances.
“When he was 17 I told him sometimes ‘come on, you do not need to go in there’. Now I think he is shrewd. But this is purely accidental. It could have happened to anyone.
“Jack’s game is to provoke with the ball at his feet and go and penetrate. You take that away you change the player and you take one of his biggest strengths out of the game.”
4. Barcelona prodigy to stay
Arsenal sent scouts to watch Sergi Samper in action in Barca’s Under-21 side last season, and had been considering a bid. However, according to talkSPORT, Samper has been told he has a future at the Camp Nou, and won’t be sold this summer.
“At first, he will be in the B team, with the option, of course, of being involved with the first team,” said Barcelona technical secretary Robert Fernandez.
3. Draxler’s future looks decided
Long-term target Julian Draxler, it seems, won’t be heading to the Emirates. According to Tuttosport, talks are at an advanced stage with Italian giants Juventus.
2. Arsenal could make move for PSG star
Perhaps as a consequence of Angel Di Maria’s arrival, Ezequiel Lavezzi could now be looking to leave the French capital this month, which has put Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur on high alert, according to the Express.
1. Benzema deal is on
Celebrity supporter and shareholder Piers Morgan seems to have some inside knowledge on Arsenal’s pursuit of the Real Madrid striker. According to Morgan, while reports yesterday claimed that a deal for Benzema would be wrapped up on Friday, this isn’t the case; however, talks have reached an ‘advanced’ stage.
BT Sports presenter Jake Humphrey also tweeted this last night, and all signs point towards the man at question being Benzema.