Gunners aiming for Granit Xhaka
The summer window will be opening before you know it, and rumours around the world are picking up steam. As always, Transfer Talk has its finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest gossip. See the latest deals here.
TOP STORY: Granit move set in stone?
It seems heavily-linked Arsenal target Granit Xhaka could be edging closer to a move to the Premier League from the Bundesliga.
The Mirror says the Gunners “have stepped up their attempts” to bring in the Switzerland international midfielder to London from Borussia Monchengladbach.
They’ve done that by putting their money where their mouths are and making an offer “worth around £24 million,” it reports.
The paper reckons that although Gladbach want more than that for the player — who has been quoted as saying that playing in England was “a childhood dream” — Arsenal “are understood to be confident of reaching an agreement.”
And you can’t say the Gunners haven’t been thorough: their opening gambit comes after having had Xhaka scouted more than 30 times.
So if he arrives, what will he bring to the Arsenal party? Well for a start, says the Mirror, the 24-year-old “boasts plenty of experience, having been capped 40 times already by his country and played over 200 club games.”
Strop of the pops
Staying in London, it’s always good to have “strop” and “crunch talks” in the same article — it means a touch of drama must be afoot.
Step forward, the Mirror. But who’s having the strop in question?
Well, the paper says, that’s West Ham striker Diafra Sakho, and it says the stroppiness happened when he found out he would not be starting the Arsenal game on Saturday. The nod went instead to Andy Carroll — who justified it by scoring a hat trick.
It adds that Senegal international Sakho “was already unsettled after his latest contract talks stalled” and is also “understood to be upset by the club’s intention to land a big-name striker in the summer, which would push him further down the pecking order.”
He had been included in the squad for the Arsenal game — a breathless 3-3 draw — but then said he had a knee injury and was eventually absent from the final team-sheet.
The Mirror claims he “posted a foul-mouthed message on social media,” which said: “When I am hated I don’t give a f—, I do everything to be more hated,” but adds that sources close to the player said that wasn’t connected with his being dropped.
Here’s to you, Mr Robertson
On the evidence of their second-half showing at Tottenham on Sunday, Manchester United could do with a defensive tweak or two.
United let in three goals in the space of six minutes at White Hart Lane as Tottenham kept their title hopes flickering and the visitors caved in.
The Sun says Hull left-back Andy Robertson could be on his way as United look to solve those problems, but here’s the caveat — “United boss Louis van Gaal, who will have an £80 million transfer war chest if he stays in his job, is understood to be first in line.”
IF he stays…
Robertson, 22, is a man in demand, the paper says — he is also interesting Arsenal, while other clubs are keeping tabs.
Martial hopes for ‘extraordinary’ arrival
Manchester United forward Anthony Martial has said he hopes Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will end up at Old Trafford this summer.
Sweden legend Zlatan, out of contract at PSG in the summer, has been linked with a move to the Premier League, with United reported to be among his realistic potential destinations.
That would be just fine by Martial, who told Telefoot: “It would be nice to play with him. He is an extraordinary player, and he continues to prove that despite his age.”
The 34-year-old Zlatan has already divulged that there is interest in him from Premier League clubs, although his agent has also said it’s also not beyond the bounds of possibility that he could end up staying with French champions PSG.
Tap-ins
– Southampton star Jose Fonte knows where he would like to see ex-Saints man Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain end up this summer — back at Southampton.
With Oxlade-Chamberlain thought likely to leave Arsenal, the Mirror says Fonte is keen to persuade the winger to return to the south coast — although the Saints are not the 22-year-old’s only potential new home. He has also been linked with both Liverpool and Manchester City.
– At the tough end of the spectrum, Aston Villa caretaker boss Eric Black has warned that next season’s squad “will have to be constructed properly” if the club are to have a chance of bouncing back from the Championship.
The Scot, who saw his side succumb to Bournemouth on Saturday, was quoted as saying by the Mirror: “It is a really tough division. Psychologically it’s hard. So the squad has to be constructed properly, otherwise you give yourself a mountain to climb.”
– You wouldn’t put Andriy Shevchenko‘s spell at Chelsea down as one of life’s roaring successes, but he has said he has a great affection for all things Stamford Bridge and could consider a return as manager one day.
The Sun quotes the Ukraine assistant coach as saying: “Life is like that. You never know. I have a very good relationship with the club, and I will try and be a manager in the future.”
