ARSENAL are set to tie down Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a new three-year contract after they lifted the FA Cup trophy at the weekend.
But one man who may not be staying at the club is Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who has been put up for sale at £30m by Mikel Arteta.
Get all the latest news and transfer gossip from North London here…
PENNY DREADFUL
Ex-Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez cost Manchester United a staggering £20MILLION per Premier League goal and £28,800 per TOUCH thanks to his sky-high £505,000 a week wages.
The Chilean forward, 31, joined the Old Trafford ranks in January 2018 as part of a swap deal with the Gunners, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan moving the other way.
At the time, fans believed the club had played a blinder in signing a superstar without paying a penny.
However, the “free” signing has actually cost the club an eye-watering £60m – with just THREE Premier League goals to show for it.
GIFT OF THE GAB
Arsenal and Lille are reportedly confident that a deal for Gabriel can be reached.
French media claim that the Gunners could sign the Brazilian defender as early as next week.
Manchester United and Everton had been keen to snap him up.
But after Mikel Arteta's side qualified for Europe, they have stepped up their pursuit of the centre-back.
WILL POWER
Arsenal are set to confirm the signing of Willian on a free transfer, according to Sky Sports.
They claim the Brazilian has agreed a three-year deal, with the Gunners beating Barcelona and Inter Miami to his signature.
It has been stated that Willian wants to play under Mikel Arteta and work with his fellow Brazilian Edu at the Emirates.
XHAK ATTACK
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is reportedly leading a players' revolt following the club's decision to make 55 members of their staff redundant.
The Daily Mail claim that the Gunners squad were left angry after news broke of the announcement as they took pay cuts in order to ensure no-one would lose jobs during the coronavirus crisis.
And it has been claimed that Xhaka was the most vocal member of the squad as they voiced their dismay at the news.
Players will now speak to the club about the redundancies as they continue to raise their concerns.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Arsenal are close to a double announcement with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to sign a new deal and Willian to join on a free transfer.
The Telegraph state that Aubameyang will be the second-highest paid player at the club once he pens his new three-year deal.
And the Gunners' move to sign Willian on a free transfer is reportedly close to being announced after the Brazilian winger, 31, rejected Chelsea's latest two-year contract extension offer – demanding three years or no deal.
And Arsenal have taken advantage of the West London stand-off by handing Willian a three-year contract worth £100,000 per week, say ESPN.
Romano confirmed the deal was on the brink of going through, too – with Arteta fully on board.
His tweet continued: “Willian approved also by Arteta. Just a matter of time and he'll until 2023 – confirmed.”
PARTEY POOPERS
Arsenal will have to pay Thomas Partey's full £45million release clause if they want to sign him.
Mikel Arteta has been desperately hunting for some steel in midfield this summer.
Earlier this year, he identified Atletico Madrid star Partey as his No1 target after another sensational season in Spain.
But the Gunners boss has been dealt a blow after the LaLiga giants insisted his release clause be activated, according to reports.
European transfer guru Fabrizio Romano revealed: “[Regarding] Thomas: Atletico told again… release clause (€50M) or he'll stay.”
Partey is under contract at the Wanda Metropolitano until the end of the 2022-23 season.
With three seasons still to run on his Atleti deal, the club are in no hurry to sell him cheaply.
Now Arsenal must pay £45m or miss out on their top midfield target.
HAZARD MK II
“He does his thing on the pitch, just like Eden Hazard. By playing, he shows what he is about.
“He is a guy who dictates the game and not many players in the world have this type of quality.
“He is always training [hard] and practicing free-kicks after. He is someone who always wants to improve.”
RUDE NOT TO
Antonio Rudiger will certainly miss Willian if he leaves Chelsea for Arsenal.
The Blues defender said: “Since day one of coming to Chelsea, he and David Luiz got me into the team and helped me out in the first couple of months because it was not that easy.
“He is a great guy and a really, really good footballer.
“He is calm and humble and it will be sad if I don't see him again as a team-mate.
“He is not the type of player who talks that much.”
GOOD MORNING ARSENAL FANS
SunSport's Duncan Wright has revealed Arsenal have put Ainsley Maitland-Niles up for sale in a desperate bid to raise money – just days after he helped win them the FA Cup.
Maitland-Niles has become the first high-profile casualty of the club's post-Covid-19 cost-cutting exercise, which has already seen them make 55 staff members redundant.
The Gunners are looking for bids of around £30million for the versatile midfielder as they scramble around for funds to finance a rebuilding programme under boss Mikel Arteta.
The decision will come as a shock to many who saw the 22-year-old academy product as an important figure in the club's future going forward.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is on the brink of signing a new three-year Arsenal deal, according to reports.
The Gunners striker is set to land a bumper pay packed in excess of £250,000 a week should he stay in North London.
The Telegraph report that “verbal promises” have been made between Aubameyang and Arsenal chiefs.
And now the final contract is being drawn up for the 31-year-old Gabon forward to sign.
Meanwhile, Willian is said to be joining Arsenal on a three-year deal.
The Chelsea winger is walking away from the club at the end of his contract and will join the North London club for a £100,000-a-week deal.
ESPN claim the transfer is imminent and he will follow David Luiz to the Emirates.
RY DID YOU DO IT?
Ryan Fraser's decision to walk out on Bournemouth looks like it could backfire.
The Scot rejected a Cherries deal of around £67,000-a-week — but Crystal Palace are offering nearer to £50,000 a week for the winger, who had hoped to earn a move worth at least double that.
Fraser, 26, is available on a free and was being tracked by elite clubs such as Arsenal and Tottenham after his stellar 2018/19 campaign, when he scored seven Premier League goals and 14 assists.
After failing to repeat that success, neither club has made a move.
ART OF WAR
Arsenal's board has overruled boss Mikel Arteta by putting Ainsley Maitland-Niles up for sale.
The Spaniard had told the club's hierarchy that the Gunners academy star had a future at the Emirates after his impressive performance in the FA Cup final.
Yet SunSport revealed that Maitland-Niles has become the first high-profile casualty of the club's post-Covid-19 cost-cutting exercise.
The Gunners are looking for bids of around £30million for the versatile midfielder as they scramble around for funds to finance a rebuilding programme under Arteta.
LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
Neil Warnock thinks Rangers and Celtic would be able to finish in the top six of the Premier League.
He told BBC Scottish Football podcast: “If you put Celtic and Rangers down in England, you’re talking about the top six.
“Those two clubs, if they got the money that the English clubs have coming in, they would spend it. They’d spend it on good players and they would then compete.
“I look at Celtic and Rangers – I don’t think about Man City or Liverpool, I think they’re way ahead – but I think the rest below that, Man United, Chelsea, I think Rangers and Celtic would more than cope with that.
“The money that the Premier League [clubs] get, it wouldn’t take long (for Celtic and Rangers to compete) – within 18 months, two years.”
NOT GUNNER HAPPEN
Sweden under-19 star Armin Gigovic has hit out at 'false rumours' linking him with Arsenal.
He told Buon Calcio a Tutti: “It seems that someone is spreading false rumours.
“I, myself, was shocked.
“The question is between the clubs, agents and so on; nothing I need to focus on.
“Yesterday wasn’t my last game for Helsingborg, absolutely not. There are still other games to play.”
AUBA THE MOON
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is on the brink of signing a new three-year Arsenal deal, according to reports.
The Gunners striker is set to land a bumper pay packed in excess of £250,000 a week should he stay in North London.
The Telegraph report that “verbal promises” have been made between Aubameyang and Arsenal chiefs.
And now the final contract is being drawn up for the 31-year-old Gabon forward to sign.
SEE YA, MAIT
SunSport's Duncan Wright has revealed Arsenal have put Ainsley Maitland-Niles up for sale in a desperate bid to raise money – just days after he helped win them the FA Cup.
Maitland-Niles has become the first high-profile casualty of the club's post-Covid-19 cost-cutting exercise, which has already seen them make 55 staff members redundant.
The Gunners are looking for bids of around £30million for the versatile midfielder as they scramble around for funds to finance a rebuilding programme under boss Mikel Arteta.
The decision will come as a shock to many who saw the 22-year-old academy product as an important figure in the club's future going forward.
MOVED TO TIERS
Kieran Tierney has been revealed as the Arsenal player who has had the most shirts sold on the club's website.
The Scottish defender has overtaken captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the most popular name for fans to have on the back of the new Gunners strip.
His No.3 strip is the most popular choice since the 2020/21 kit release last month, but starlet Bukayo Saka is surprisingly the second-best seller so far.
Aubameyang is next up with some fans may be erring on the side of caution in terms of shirt sales in case the striker fails to agree a new contract at the club.
Strike partner Alexandre Lacazette is pushed down to fourth, with his future also a source of speculation.
Hector Bellerin is fifth, just ahead of record signing Nicolas Pepe, keeper Bernd Leno and teenage starlet Gabriel Martinelli.
LILLE PROBLEM
Arsenal have been dealt a bitter blow after Gent striker Jonathan David reportedly agreed a £27m move to Lille.
The highly-rated Canadian forward, 20, had been targeted by Mikel Arteta to replace wantaway skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer.
As reported by Goal, the whizkid looks set to replace Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen at Lille after he joined Napoli for £45m last week.
It is understood that David will pen a five-year contract at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.
ED AND SHOULDERS ABOVE
Antonio Rudiger compared Willian to Chelsea legend Eden Hazard, who left for Real Madrid last summer.
He told the Mail: “He does his thing on the pitch, just like Eden Hazard. By playing, he shows what he is about.
“He is a guy who dictates the game and not many players in the world have this type of quality.
“He is always training [hard] and practicing free-kicks after. He is someone who always wants to improve.”
WILL MISS YOU
Antonio Rudiger believes Chelsea will greatly miss “calm and humble” Willian if the Brazil winger seals his Arsenal move.
The Mail report the 27-year-old as saying: “Since day one of coming to Chelsea, he and David Luiz got me into the team and helped me out in the first couple of months because it was not that easy.
“He is a great guy and a really, really good footballer.
“He is calm and humble and it will be sad if I don't see him again as a team-mate.
“He is not the type of player who talks that much.”
HODD ENOUGH
Glen Hoddle has been axed as ITV's co-commentator for England games.
The former Three Lions manager, 62, has been replaced by Arsenal legend Lee Dixon, 56.
ITV announced last month that main commentator Clive Tyldesley, 65, is being replaced by Sam Matterface, 42.
And now it has been confirmed that Hoddle has been forced to step down.
An ITV spokesman said: “Glenn has been an excellent co-commentator and valued part of the ITV team.
“His deal has come to an end and going forward we are making a change in the co-commentator role, bringing in Lee Dixon, who has experience in this position and who, with his wealth of knowledge of expertise and insight will work well with Sam Matterface, our new lead commentator.”
SONNY SHORES
Maltese club Sliema Wanderers have become the latest destination for former Arsenal star Denilson.
The midfielder left the Gunners in 2013 but has spent recent years battling serious knee injuries after spells in Brazil and the Middle East.
On Thursday, club president Keith Perry told Times of Malta that a one-year contract had been agreed with the 32-year-old.
Sliema are historically are historically Malta's most successful team but last won the league in 2005, finishing tenth in 2019/20.
Coached by former Brentford defender John Buttigieg, the club have failed to reach Europe, where they are usually dispatched in the early qualifying rounds, in the last five years.
DON'T MISS THE BOAT
Arsenal target Jerome Boateng is open to a Premier League move and could be available on a free next summer.
The German centre-back admitted he loved his short time in England with Manchester City and would not rule out a return to the UK.
The 76-cap German international told the Guardian: “I would not say no, I loved it when I was there.”
Boateng had an injury plagued season with City in the 2010/11 campaign but that hasn't put him off a Prem return.
He added: “For me it was really unlucky because I got injured straight away and then I didn’t really play the position they promised me.
“But I still took a lot from playing in the Premier League. It helped me a lot to play and train with great players.
“I am definitely down for it, but I don’t know the future.
“You never know. But it’s not that I would say: ‘I never want to play there.’ It’s one of my favourite leagues for sure.”
NEW DEAL FOR PEA
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to sign a new three-year Arsenal deal, according to reports.
The Gunners' most potent player, who scored 29 goals last season in all competitions, is set to be rewarding for scoring the winning goals in the FA Cup final.
VAR'S COME FAR
The Premier League has voted to get its VAR rules in line with that of other countries.
But 'armpit offside' decisions are staying – getting England in line with Fifa's law interpretations.
Decisions on goalkeeper encroachment during penalties will also be tweaked.
SCOUTS CULL
The aftermath of Arsenal's mass cull of staff is continuing to become clear.
Scouts in France, Germany, Belgium, Spain and Italy have been made redundant.
Francis Cagigao, the club's head of international scouting, was also let go by the club.
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