ARSENAL are preparing a major summer move for Paulo Dybala according to reports.
The Argentine international has stalled on his contract negotiations with Juventus and could be heading elsewhere in the transfer window.
Meanwhile, Barcelona are reported to be interested in signing Gunners captain Alexandre Lacazette on a free transfer.
A move to the Nou Camp would see the Frenchman link up with former Arsenal team-mate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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- Justin Lawrence
He's a new man
Arsenal legend Martin Keown reckons former Gunner Joe Willock's been rejuvenated at Newcastle.
And Keown credits Toon boss Eddie Howe for getting the most out of Willock.
He told the Daily Mail: “Howe has got Chris Wood, Bruno Guimaraes and Matt Targett all into his side, while he has rejuvenated Joe Willock and Ryan Fraser.”
- Justin Lawrence
Top four miracle race
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte reckons the top-four race will be extremely difficult.
And the Italian thinks whoever clinches the fourth spot out of Spurs, Arsenal and Man United will have achieved a miracle.
He said: "It’s right to underline that this target is very, very difficult.
“We are not the only team that wants to try to do this miracle. There’s also Arsenal that in this moment has an advantage, and then there is United.”
- Justin Lawrence
Arsenal's agent fees
Arsenal reportedly spent £18.6million on agent fees from February 2, 2021 to January 31, 2022.
The Gunners' £18m was out of a total of £272m spent by Prem clubs during that time frame, according to The Athletic.
But they were fifth on the list behind Man City, Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool.
- Justin Lawrence
Sal gone wrong
William Saliba has revealed his frustration over being a bit-part player at Arsenal before going out on loan to Marseille.
His form at the Ligue 1 side has led to Arsenal being in constant contact with him, but he has no intention of heading back to North London if he's going to sit on the bench.
Saliba told L'Equipe: “They are often in contact with my agent. They send me messages. They watch my matches. They tell me that we have to continue like this.
“I haven’t played much with the Gunners. The coach has made his choices, that’s life. I left on loan, I put the matches together, and I became an international.
"What happened to me forged a tougher mind, it is not because you have cost €30m that you are playing. I take it positively, even if there are times that you wonder.
“For six months I saw I was the only in the group not to play, that hurt.”
- Justin Lawrence
Soares on Saka
Cedric Soares reckons Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka will have a great career in football.
Soares told Sky Sports: "When I started to train with Bukayo, and it’s not just him at Arsenal, but I started to get something.
“He has been amazing and I think he’ll have a brilliant future and he’s a fantastic kid.
“I’m very proud of him but he just needs to keep going.
“There is no limit, but it’s important he keeps going the same way and I’m sure he will have a brilliant career.”
- Alex Cole
Good morning, Arsenal fans
Bukayo Saka could return for Arsenal at Crystal Palace after recovering from Covid.
But Aaron Ramsdale looks set to remain sidelined for the trip to South London on Monday night.
However, Mikel Arteta revealed he has made a strong recovery and could therefore feature at Selhurt Park.
Ramsdale sat out of the 1-0 win at Aston Villa before the international break due to a hip injury.
And it looks as though Bernd Leno will keep his place in the side with the doubtful first-choice goalkeeper still not fully fit.
Arteta said yesterday: "Bukayo is feeling good, he’s training today, hopefully, if he’s still feeling as he was yesterday.
“I don’t know how much he would have played [for England], sometimes when a player is in a good moment, you don’t want to stop it.
“It is what it is, he had Covid, we had to take him out of the national team. He had time to rest and recover and he’ll be trying again in the next few days to again hit the form that he was in.”
The Spaniard added: "Aaron is a doubt, he’s still feeling not great, he hasn’t trained yet and we don’t know what he’ll be able to do on Monday.
“He wanted to play against Villa but it was a significant injury. He had to take his time.
"The physios are doing everything they can to make him available but we will see in the next few days when he starts to do real training.”
- Alex Cole
Lokonga awaits November's World Cup
Sambi Lokonga could play at his first World Cup for Belgium under Roberto Martinez.
The 22-year-old will face Croatia, Morocco and Canada, if selected.
Credit: Getty - Alex Cole
Zaha could be fit for Monday's game
Wilfried Zaha is winning his battle to be fit for Monday’s clash against Arsenal, writes TOM BARCLAY.
The Crystal Palace star, 29, injured his hamstring while on international duty with the Ivory Coast this past week.
It saw him miss Tuesday’s 3-0 friendly defeat against his former nation England and has had Eagles fans sweating – particularly with an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea just over two weeks away.
But SunSport understands after a few days’ rest, Zaha is hopeful of featuring against the Gunners in two days’ time.
It is a crunch clash in the race for the top four, as Mikel Arteta’s men could have slipped behind arch-rivals Tottenham by kick-off should Spurs beat Newcastle by two-clear goals on Sunday.
Palace have won four of an unbeaten last six in all competitions and former Arsenal target Zaha has played a huge role in that run with four goals.
- Alex Cole
Tomiyasu's World Cup ahead
Takehiro Tomiyasu is expected to feature in his first World Cup this winter.
Japan are in Group E with games against Spain, Germany and Costa Rica/New Zealand.
Credit: Getty
- Alex Cole
The Gunners appear to lose out on Oware
Manchester City have reportedly fended off interest from Arsenal and Barcelona in the battle to sign Ghanaian starlet Henry Oware, writes JAKE LAMBOURNE.
The 18-year-old centre-back is regarded as one of the top prospects in Africa following his outings for West Africa Football Academy.
Oware has featured in seven Ghana Premier League matches this term, catching the eye of a number of European clubs.
According to the Daily Mail, the Gunners – along with Barca, Lille and Red Bull Salzburg – are all keen on securing the teenager's services.
However they state that it is the Citizens that are set to win the race to prise the youngster away from the WAFA Stadium.
Pep Guardiola's side are claimed to have been scouting the defender for two years as they close in on his signature.
It has been said that The City Group will fork out a fee in the region of £800,000 for Oware.
The news outlet adds that Oware will not be allowed to play in England straight away due to a new points-based system introduced by the FA has for overseas players.
City are expected to loan him out to feeder club Troyes in Ligue 1 in the summer for the 2022-23 season.
- Alex Cole
Tierney to stay
Kieran Tierney is fully committed to Arsenal despite interest from Real Madrid, according to reports, writes ETIENNE FERMIE.
The Scotland international has cemented himself as a fan favourite in North London since switching Celtic for the Gunners in 2019.
And according to Football London, Tierney has no interest in leaving the Gunners any time soon.
They add that he plans to stay at Arsenal for at least the full duration of his current contract, which runs until 2026.
- Alex Cole
Gabi becomes Daddy
The Gunners have congratulated defender Gabriel as he becomes a father.
- Justin Lawrence
Lacazette's wanted by Barca
Arsenal star Alexandre Lacazette is wanted by Barcelona in a FREE transfer, according to reports.
The Frenchman is out of contract at the end of this season and is yet to agree to new terms.
According to Sport, Lacazette is a target of Barca.
A move to the Catalan giants would see the striker link up with former Arsenal team-mate and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who moved there in January.
- Justin Lawrence
Seaman's Martinelli comparison
David Seaman has compared Leeds star Patrick Bamford to Arsenal striker Gabriel Martinelli.
The Gunners legend said: “He reminds me of Martinelli at Arsenal. He’s one of them players who’s got tonnes of energy and with all that energy, he annoys defenders because he’s at them all the time. And he can finish as well.
"Maybe now that they know Bamford is out, they’re thinking right ‘let’s give him a chance’.”
- Justin Lawrence
Arteta scoops manager gong
Mikel Arteta has been named Premier League manager of the month for March, with Harry Kane scooping up the player gong.
The Arsenal boss guided his team to three wins out of four last month, with the Gunners clambering into fourth place.
Kane, meanwhile bagged the Premier League player of the month award for a record seventh time – drawing level with Sergio Aguero.
The Tottenham star scored twice in his side's 5-0 battering of Everton before adding further efforts against Manchester United and Brighton.
Kane, 28, was subsequently in a creative mood during the 3-1 victory over West Ham, bagging two assists for strike partner Son Heung-min.
The Spurs striker is set for a huge battle against Arteta's Gunners as the race for the top four goes down to the wire.
- Justin Lawrence
Ukraine want friendy with Prem club
Ukraine manager Oleksandr Petrakov wants to play a Premier League side to prepare for his nation’s play-off tie with Scotland.
Petrakov’s got his eyes set on a game at Wembley, preferably with a London club.
He told the Guardian: “We could play at Wembley, for example, against a London club.
“It could be a good exhibition game, a response for the Ukrainian army, as well as preparatory work for the Scotland game.”
- Justin Lawrence
Merson wants Zaha at Arsenal
Arsenal legend Paul Merson has urged the Gunners to sign Wilfred Zaha to replace Nicolas Pepe.
He wrote for the Daily Star: "Arsenal should go back in for Wilfried Zaha and try to sign him from Crystal Palace this summer.
"They wanted him before and missed out. But Zaha wanted to join them and he won't stay at Palace forever.
"I think he would have made a difference to Arsenal. He's better than Nicolas Pepe. He draws players towards him and makes things happen."
- Justin Lawrence
Bac's not true
Bacary Sagna hit back at Cesc Fabregas after the Spaniard claimed only two players matched his quality at Arsenal.
The 34-year-old controversially said that only Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie were on his wavelength at the Gunners.
But Arsenal fan-favourite Sagna, who was twice named in the PFA Team of the Year, believes more should have been expected of him.
Speaking to Goal, the Frenchman replied: "I was surprised to read this.
I don’t agree with that statement. It’s his opinion and he’s right to have an opinion, but we all have good moments and bad moments in our career and I’m not sure he always had great moments with Arsenal.
“Yes, he is a great player, he has amazing quality, but maybe some people were expecting more from him.”
- Justin Lawrence
Arsenal in transfer blow
Arsenal have missed out on wonder-kid Vinicius Tobias to Real Madrid, reports claim.
The Gunners along with Man City had been tailing the right-back.
But according to 90min, Real will sign the Brazilian starlet and hand him a five-year contract this summer.
- Justin Lawrence
PSG want Arsenal/Man United target
PSG have joined Manchester United and Arsenal in the race to sign Ajax winger Antony, according to reports.
He has 12 goals and 10 assists across all competitions this season, with six of his goal contributions coming in the Champions League.
Premier League duo Man Utd and Arsenal hold an interest in signing Antony.
But according to Le10Sport, PSG has joined the pair in the race to sign the Brazil international.
In fact, PSG have "upped their pursuit" in recent weeks and are currently in the lead to capture Antony's signature.
- Justin Lawrence
Torreira on the move
Fiorentina are reportedly keen on making Arsenal star Lucas Torreira's loan switch permanent this summer.
The Serie A club brought Torreira to the club last summer with an option to buy clause embedded in the contract.
And now they plan to activate the £12.6million release clause fee when the season ends, according to Calciomercato.
- Justin Lawrence
Agent Lingard and Gnabry
Man United fans are hoping “agent” Jesse Lingard can help lure Bayern Munich ace Serge Gnabry to Old Trafford.
Lingard has spent some time in Milan during the international break.
And he has been snapped with Arsenal academy graduate Gnabry, who has made a name for himself in Germany.
Man Utd have been tracking Gnabry for some time and Bayern are yet to tie the winger down to new terms.
Sky Germany are reporting that Bayern have so far failed to meet his salary demands – leading an array of clubs to begin circling.
- Justin Lawrence
Saka could be back
Bukayo Saka could return for Arsenal at Crystal Palace after recovering from Covid.
But Aaron Ramsdale looks set to remain sidelined for the trip to South London on Monday night.
Saka, 20, missed the recent England camp after contracting coronavirus.
However, Mikel Arteta revealed he has made a strong recovery and could therefore feature at Selhurt Park.
Ramsdale sat out of the 1-0 win at Aston Villa before the international break due to a hip injury.
- Justin Lawrence
Arteta defends Saka
Mikel Arteta has defended Bukayo Saka after Steven Gerrard slammed the youngster for asking for more protection from referees.
Arteta said: "I think Bukayo said he was not going to complain, but he wanted some consistency in the refereeing.
"The only person who can protect the players is the referee because he guides the level of the game and the level of the contact and physicality that is allowed or not allowed in a football match.
"I think we have to protect our best players and that’s in the hands of the referee, that’s all."
- Justin Lawrence
Lacazette transfer hunt
Alexandre Lacazette is being tracked by both Barcelona and Lyon, reports claim.
The Gunners star's contract ends this summer and he hasn't been offered a new one yet.
And if that doesn't change, both Barca and Lyon are willing to offer Lacazette a new home, according to SPORT.
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