ARSENAL have had a £66.6m bid for Dusan Vlahovic accepted, according to reports from Italy.
And with add-ons, that fee could rise to £88m.
But it is believed the Serb may yet choose to stay at Fiorentina for another season before joining Juventus on a free transfer in 2023.
Meanwhile Thomas Partey is joining Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in an early return from AFCON after his Ghana team were dumped out of the group stage following a shock defeat to Comoros.
Partey's return will be a major boost for the Gunners threadbare midfield.
While Aubameyang has been linked with a loan move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassar – with a view to a PERMANENT £8m move.
Finally Juventus have reportedly identified Lyon's Bruno Guimaraes as their replacement for Arsenal target Arthur Melo.
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- Joshua Jones
Good morning to Gunners fans
Arsenal ace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has received an offer to join Al-Nassr after falling out of favour.
According to CBS, Al-Nassr have lodged a loan offer for the star striker with an obligatory buy clause of €8million (£6.6m).
The Gunners have yet to respond but they are open to selling the Gabon international.
Meanwhile, The FA have launched an investigation into a yellow card received by an Arsenal player in a Premier League game this season, according to reports.
It comes after bookmakers reported ‘suspicious betting patterns’ surrounding a Gunners star being booked.
The identity of the player in question is yet to be released.
And finally, Arsenal transfer supremo Edu has reportedly met with Juve star Arthur’s agent.
The Gunners are desperate to rope in the Brazilian in this month’s transfer window.
And Edu was reportedly wooing the midfielder’s representative Federico Pastorello, at the club’s London Colney training ground in order to push through a deal, according to The Metro.
- Justin Lawrence
Arteta comes out guns blazing
Fuming Arteta has come out with all guns blazing at Arsenal’s critics and vowed to defend his club 'with teeth and nails.'
The Emirates boss is incensed by the flak he has taken after the postponement of Sunday’s North London derby.
And he insisted the club did everything by the book when they had the game called off despite recording only one positive Covid case.
- Justin Lawrence
Edu meets with Arthur's agent
Arsenal transfer supremo Edu has reportedly met with Juve star Arthur's agent.
The Gunners are desperate to rope in the Brazilian in this month's transfer window.
And Edu was reportedly wooing the midfielder's representative Federico Pastorello, at the club’s London Colney training ground in order to push through a deal, according to The Metro.
- Justin Lawrence
Chamberlain out for Arsenal clash
Liverpool have suffered an injury blow with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain OUT of Thursday’s Carabao Cup showdown at Arsenal.
The former Gunners star was hoping to face his old side in the semi-final, second-leg clash at the Emirates.
But Oxlade-Chamberlain has failed to recover from an ankle problem sustained in Sunday’s 3-0 win against Brentford.
The versatile midfielder was forced off just minutes after scoring at Anfield.
And Oxlade-Chamberlain will not make it in time for tomorrow’s Carabao battle, with the scores tied at 0-0 from the first leg.
- Justin Lawrence
Henry ‘wanted by Bordeaux'
Thierry Henry is Bordeaux's No1 target if the Ligue 1 strugglers sack boss Vladimir Petkovic, according to reports in France.
Arsenal legend Henry, currently Belgium's assistant coach, is reportedly in 'regular contact' with The French club's president, Gerard Lopez.
And RMC Sport claim the French World Cup winner heads a list of several options as ex-Switzerland chief Petkovic is tipped to depart.
- Justin Lawrence
Ramsey rejects Toon offer – Juve upset
Aaron Ramsey has infuriated his bosses at Juventus by rejecting a move to Newcastle, according to reports.
Ramsey has been identified by Allegri as an outgoing player but so far he is refusing to budge.
The Welshman has turned down the opportunity to join Newcastle, Wolves and Burnley, report Calciomercato.
Ramsey wants to join a more high profile club – Crystal Palace are an option.
- Justin Lawrence
Arsenal joined by Burnley in Orsic chase
Burnley are eyeing up a move for Croatia international midfielder Mislav Orsic.
The 29-year-old is valued at around £10million by his current club Dinamo Zagreb who are in no rush to let him go.
Orsic has previously been linked with Arsenal.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche has money to spend after the shock £25 million sale of Chris Wood last week.
- Justin Lawrence
Good job Arteta
Liverpool’s assistant manager, Pep Lijnders has praised Arsenal before the two sides meet in the Carabao Cup.
Ljinder's credited Arteta for turning the Gunners into a good team.
He said: “First of all, Arsenal always had really good players but, for me, they have a really good team at this moment,” Lijnders said.
“I think credit to Mikel, they matured."
- Justin Lawrence
Arsenal considering loan transfer
Saudi Arabian outfit Al Nassr have reportedly submitted a loan proposal for Arsenal outcast Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Aubameyang has returned to Arsenal from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Gabon due to 'lesions' being found on his heart after contracting Covid-19.
His future remains uncertain, having not played for the club since December after being stripped of the club captaincy.
And Saudi side Al Nassr tabled a loan proposal for Aubameyang on Tuesday in a bid to rescue Aubameyang from his Arsenal woes, according to CBS.
The loan offer included a £6.7million obligation to buy the 32-year-old at the end of the campaign.
It's claimed the Gunners are yet to respond to the offer, but are keen to offload Aubameyang's £250,000-a-week wages.
- Justin Lawrence
Arsenal star under investigation
The FA have launched an investigation into a yellow card received by an Arsenal player in a Premier League game this season, according to reports.
It comes after bookmakers reported ‘suspicious betting patterns’ surrounding a Gunners star being booked.
Bookies flagged an ‘unusual amount of money being placed on the Arsenal player being shown a yellow’, according to the Athletic.
The FA told them: “The FA is aware of the matter in question and is looking into it.”
Several gambling industry workers have described the betting pattern as ‘highly unusual’.
Such ‘spot betting’ has long been an issue for governing bodies as the outcomes are much easier for individuals involved in sporting events to manipulate.
The identity of the player in question is yet to be released.
- Justin Lawrence
Get Tielemens in
John Barnes thinks Arsenal should go for Leicester ace Tielemans instead of Juve star Arthur as the Belgian is more suited to the English game.
Plus Barnes reckons the Foxes will potentially be more willing to do business than Juve would.
Barnes told BonusCodeBets: “Youri Tielemans would be a great signing for Arsenal because he knows the English game.
Arthur is a good player but the fact that Tielemans has proved himself in England and he knows the pace of the English game means he would suit Arsenal better.
“Tielemans has such a good intensity and drive to the way he plays. He’s also got such a good range of passing, can score from outside the box and has the mentality of a top player.
One thing you also couldn’t fault him on is consistency, he’s been one of Leicester’s best performers since he arrived at the club.
“Leicester City are a selling club, regardless of what anyone says. They have ambitions to get fourth or fifth and they can fulfill those ambitions with, or without Youri Tielemans.”
- Justin Lawrence
Ex-Gunner Jenkinson goes Down Under
Ex-Arsenal star Carl Jenkinson has made a shock loan switch to Australian side Melbourne City from parent club Nottingham Forest.
The 29-year-old will join the A-League Champions for the rest of the season after falling to nail down a regular first-team spot during his time with Forest.
Jenkinson said: "I’m excited to be joining a Club that are the current champions of Australia.
“I’ve heard a lot of good things about both Melbourne as a beautiful city, the professionalism of the club and the quality of the league."
- Kostas Lianos
Arteta addresses criticism
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta addressed recent criticism after the Gunners' request to postpone the north London derby was accepted by the Premier League.
Arteta said: "We didn’t have the players necessary to put a squad in a Premier League match. That is 100 per cent guaranteed. When we played the first three games of the season we were killed because people said we were naïve, don’t play with your kids.
"We played against [Nottingham] Forest when we had 10 players out. And we went to Liverpool and we had many players out.
"We have done that and we have played with academy players when we already have the youngest squad in the league. Tomorrow if we have everybody available as I suspect we will play the match because we want to play football.
"Yes, but you have to do that from the beginning. To ask somebody to change is a little bit manipulative. I think everybody has to do the right thing and if we have to change things let’s change them"
- Kostas Lianos
Aubameyang receives offer
Arsenal ace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has received an offer to join Al-Nassr after falling out of favour.
Aubameyang has been sidelined following another disciplinary breach and questions about his future have risen.
According to CBS, Al-Nassr have lodged a loan offer for the star striker with an obligatory buy clause of €8million (£6.6m).
The Gunners have yet to respond but they are open to selling the Gabon international
GETTY IMAGES - Kostas Lianos
Arteta on Aubameyang
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta confirmed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is back in London going through medical tests after he was diagnosed with minor heart problems following his recent bout with coronavirus.
Arteta said: "He’s in London and going through some examinations because we haven’t had any clarity from Gabon about why he came back.
"So it’s our obligation to make sure he’s safe and in good condition.
"So far historically with what we’ve done with the player that’s never been an issue"
- Kostas Lianos
Vlahovic advised to join Arsenal
Fiorentina star Dusan Vlahovic has been advised to sign with Arsenal by his former sporting director at Partizan Ivica Iliev.
Iliev told the Daily Mirror: "I hope, for the moment at a club where there is not too much competition, a club who will give him space – for example, I think Arsenal is one of these clubs.
"I am waiting for the moment he signs for a top, top club, for me it is normal that every top club in the world wants him, I think the whole of Europe wants him, now I hope that he will sign for the best club for his career.
"He needs to choose the best place for his career because he is still so young and has a lot of years in front of him to improve and become one of the biggest and best strikers in the world"
- Kostas Lianos
Art of the deal
Arsenal ace Mohamed Elneny could be on his way out of the Emirates in the January transfer window with Fenerbahce keen to sign him.
Elneny is currently on international duty with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
The midfielder has entered the final six months of his contract at the Emirates and it doesn't seem likely that he will sign fresh terms.
According to Sport360Egypt, the 29-year-old could return to Turkey to play for Fener
- Kostas Lianos
Bissouma bid rejected
Brighton refused a £30million offer for Yves Bissouma from an unnamed club.
Bissouma has impressed in the Premier League and has attracted interest from various suitors, such as Arsenal.
However, the Seagulls are proving to be tough negotiators as they turned down a hefty fee, according to French journalist Fabrice Hawkins.
Hawkins tweeted: "Yves #Bissouma , currently at the [AFCON], is the subject of several offers. Brighton have rebuffed a £30m offer. The Malian will not move this winter unless there is an exceptional offer. Aston Villa, Newcastle and Arsenal are interested"
GETTY IMAGES - Kostas Lianos
Xhaka still eyeing move
Arsenal ace Granit Xhaka is still interested in a move to Roma, even though he has already signed a a new deal.
That is according to Corriere dello Sport, who claim he could still move to the Serie A.
The midfielder was close to a move to the Olimpico last summer buta transfer never materialised.
The Switzerland international instead penned a new contract with the Gunners, despite Jose Mourinho's intense interest
- Kostas Lianos
Melo move on
Arsenal are pushing ahead with an attempted loan deal for Juventus ace Arthur.
That is despite Thomas Partey’s early return from the Africa Cup of Nations after Ghana's shock elimination in the group stage.
Gunners manager Mikel Arteta wants to boost his depleted squad after loaning out Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Pablo Mari and Folarin Balogun, while also cancelling the contract of Sead Kolasinac.
Arthur is keen on the move after struggling to make an impression in Italy and Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri is not opposed to the deal.
- Kostas Lianos
Dembele plot twist
Barcelona manager Xavi has admitted that Ousmane Dembele will be sold this month unless he signs a new deal.
Dembele has been linked with Arsenal as well as other clubs, like Manchester United, Newcastle and Liverpool.
Xavi said: “The message is clear. Ousmane Dembele has to sign a new contract or we find a way to sell him in January. No other way.
“I also wonder about agent is talking the way he is and Dembele, on the other hand, telling me he wants to stay.
"I can’t understand"
- Kostas Lianos
Up for Cup
Arsenal's Carabao Cup second leg against Liverpool is set to go ahead with five more Gunners aces available.
There were doubts over Thursday night's match at the Emirates going ahead with so many of the north Londoners' players out of action.
It is understood Mikel Arteta was missing 14 players through a combination of Covid-19, injury, international call-ups and suspension.
According to the Daily Mail, however, Arteta has been boosted by some of those returning and ready for selection.
Martin Odegaard tested positive for coronavirus last week but has now completed his isolation period.
Bukayo Saka, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Calum Chambers and Cedric Soares have all shaken off minor injuries
GETTY IMAGES - Kostas Lianos
Arthur term
Arsenal are reportedly facing a speed bump in their attempt to sign Juventus star Arthur.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Juve want to sanction an 18-month loan deal, or negotiate a larger fee.
The Gunners were hopeful of signing the Brazil international on loan until the end of the season.
Mikel Arteta wishes to strengthen in midfield as he pushes for a top-four finish
- Kostas Lianos
Arsenal out of Asensio race
Arsenal have reportedly pulled out of the transfer race for Real Madrid star Marco Asensio.
The Gunners have been among the clubs keeping tabs on Asensio during the January transfer window.
According to El Nacional, however, the winger has been taken of the north Londoners' shortlist.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta also prefers to rely on Gabriel Martinelli, who is making a lot of progress at the Emirates
- Kostas Lianos
Lino Da Cruz Sousa announcement imminent
Arsenal are expected to announce the arrival of West Brom youngster Lino Da Cruz Sousa.
That is according to Football London, who report the deal is expected to be announced imminently.
Sousa has been earmarked as a potential star of the future by those within the Gunners' hierarchy.
The left-back has attracted plenty of interest from the Premier League and can be versatile on the pitch
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