Euro Paper Talk: Arsenal in pole position for 2 centre-backs and target cheaper Zaha alternative Arsenal are looking at a Monaco winger, whilst also closing in on two defensive signings, and Real Madrid are not interested in Paul Pogba and his price tag, according to Wednesday’s European papers. ARSENAL CHASE TRIO Arsenal are considering a move for 24-year-old Monaco winger Keita Balde, report Le10sport. Balde spent last season on loan at Inter Milan where he hit five goals and three assists in 24 Serie A games for the Nerazzurri. Balde is valued at £30million, is currently playing in the AFCON and was linked with clubs in England 18 months ago. He may well be an alternative target to Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha, who has a price tag of around £80million. The Gunners are also interested in signing Inter Milan defender Zinho Vanheusden, claims Tuttosport. The 19-year-old, who has been linked with Southampton and Wolves, was heading for Standard Liege on a permanent deal after his one-year loan spell in Belgium but the Gunners’ interest has put the deal on hold. Italian outfit Sassuolo are also interested in the player, but the Italian source report the north London club are in pole position to land Vanheusden. Arsenal are also set to sign William Saliba and he could be their their first signing of the summer in a €25m deal, according to ESPN. Saliba only recently signed a new four-year contract at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard – leaving Saint-Etienne in a strong position to negotiate a sizeable fee. LIVERPOOL BOSS KLOPP REJECTS MADRID ANCHORMAN Liverpool rejected the chance to sign Marcos Llorente from Real Madrid before he made the move to their city rivals Atletico, a report claims. The 24-year-old midfielder made just seven appearances in LaLiga last season, having been behind Casemiro in the pecking order under both Santiago Solari and Zinedine Zidane. Zidane subsequently told Llorente that finding a new club would be his best option this summer, as he could not offer increased playing time next season. Now, the player’s uncle and agent – Julio Llorente – has lifted the lid on negotiations this summer and how his client ended up at Atleti, even mentioning interest from Liverpool. “All this started when Zidane told Marcos that he was going to have few minutes, that the best thing was to go, and at that moment I started to work, to communicate with the clubs that I think have the profile that Marcos can do well,” he told Cadena SER. “One was Atlético. Obviously it ‘s hard because no player likes it when his boss tells him he does not want him, and for Marcos it has been hard. But he is a mature boy and he has accepted it with optimism. “I contacted several clubs to let them know what had happened, the conversation that Zidane and Marcos had had, one of which was Liverpool, but Marcos was not a priority. “Atlético is the one who took the strongest step and convinced us. I think we have done the right thing, I hope it’s like that, I hope Marcos will do very well.” Jurgen Klopp is understandably happy with his options in the holding midfield role, with Fabinho filling that role nicely last season following his £40m arrival from Monaco. The Reds played Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum in the deepest of three midfield roles last season, while Marko Grujic could yet feature next season despite links with a €40m exit. AND THE REST Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis says Allan and Lorenzo Insigne can leave if suitable offers are lodged (Calciomercato) Man Utd are open to selling Romelu Lukaku but have yet to receive a suitable offer from Inter Milan (ESPN) Manchester United have dropped their interest in Paris Saint-Germain right-back Thomas Meunier (ESPN) Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen has an offer on the table from Watford (Corriere dello Sport) Edinson Cavani has confirmed that he wishes to stay at Paris Saint-Germain until the end of his current contract in 2020 (L’Equipe) Juventus are set to hand Juan Cuadrado an extension that would run through until 2021 (Goal) Dani Alves says he would like to play in England after confirming his exit from the Ligue 1 champions PSG (Globe Sports) Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is not interested in making a big-money move for Paul Pogba (Don Balon) Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has discussed transfer targets including Kostas Manolas and James Rodriguez at a recent event (gianlucadimarzio.com) AC Milan could offer either Franck Kessie – valued at €40m – or Ricardo Rodriguez in part-exchange to sweeten a deal for Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira. (Goal) Milan are increasingly confident they will be able to sign Torreira, and are readying a €5m loan offer with €30m obligation to buy. (Di Marzio) Arsenal could turn to Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos – valued at €50m – as a direct replacement for Torreira. (Gazzetta dello Sport) Manchester City have held talks with Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici about a £44m deal to sign Portugal defender Joao Cancelo. (TuttoMercatoWeb) Real Madrid may make a move for Ajax’s Donny van de Beek should they fail to land Paul Pogba. (Marca) Bayern Munich will turn to Ousmane Dembele if they fail in their pursuit of Leroy Sane. (Bild) Real Madrid have enquired about the possibility of a right to first refusal on Benfica defender Ruben Dias, who has been linked with Manchester United. (AS) Liverpool do not intend to sell Simon Mignolet, and will only consider letting the keeper leave if the fee is acceptable. (ESPN) Valencia are interested in signing wantaway Newcastle forward Ayoze Perez. (Goal) Liverpool forward Divock Origi – who scored in the Champions League final win over Tottenham in June – is wanted by Real Betis, with the Spanish club preparing a bid of about £10m for the 24-year-old Belgium international. (Bein Sports) Manchester United want Sevilla and France forward Wissam Ben Yedder and will trigger his £35.8m release clause. (ABC de Sevilla) Stade de Reims goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has emerged as a transfer target for newly promoted Premier League clubs Aston Villa and Norwich City. (L’Equipe) Celtic are moving closer to confirming the signing of French defender Christopher Jullien from Toulouse. (Le Depeche) Romelu Lukaku’s agent Federico Pastorello has confirmed Inter’s interest in taking the Manchester United forward to Serie A. Samir Nasri has been offered a contract of around €4 million (£3.6m) per year by UAE Pro-League side Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai FC. (Foot Mercato) AC Milan are exploring the possibility of signing Lyon playmaker Nabil Fekir. (France Football) Former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is in advanced negotiations for a return to Juventus from PSG on a one-year contract, with a future as a director. (Sky Italia) Borussia Monchengladbach are poised to complete the signing of forward Breel Embolo from Schalke on Wednesday. (WAZ) Roma winger Stephan El Shaarawy has agreed to join Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua in a £16.11m deal. (Il Tempo) Torino are targeting AZ Alkmaar’s 22-year-old left-back Thomas Ouwejan. (Voetbal International) Lille midfielder Thiago Mendes has agreed a move to Lyon. (RMC Sport) The post Euro Paper Talk: Arsenal in pole position for 2 centre-backs and target cheaper Zaha alternative appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Arsenal are looking at a Monaco winger, whilst also closing in on two defensive signings, and Real Madrid are not interested in Paul Pogba and his price tag, according to Wednesday’s European papers.

 

ARSENAL CHASE TRIO

Arsenal are considering a move for 24-year-old Monaco winger Keita Balde, report Le10sport.

Balde spent last season on loan at Inter Milan where he hit five goals and three assists in 24 Serie A games for the Nerazzurri.

Balde is valued at £30million, is currently playing in the AFCON and was linked with clubs in England 18 months ago.

He may well be an alternative target to Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha, who has a price tag of around £80million.

The Gunners are also interested in signing Inter Milan defender Zinho Vanheusden, claims Tuttosport.

The 19-year-old, who has been linked with Southampton and Wolves, was heading for Standard Liege on a permanent deal after his one-year loan spell in Belgium but the Gunners’ interest has put the deal on hold.

Italian outfit Sassuolo are also interested in the player, but the Italian source report the north London club are in pole position to land Vanheusden.

Arsenal are also set to sign William Saliba and he could be their their first signing of the summer in a €25m deal, according to ESPN.

Saliba only recently signed a new four-year contract at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard – leaving Saint-Etienne in a strong position to negotiate a sizeable fee.

 

LIVERPOOL BOSS KLOPP REJECTS MADRID ANCHORMAN

Liverpool rejected the chance to sign Marcos Llorente from Real Madrid before he made the move to their city rivals Atletico, a report claims.

The 24-year-old midfielder made just seven appearances in LaLiga last season, having been behind Casemiro in the pecking order under both Santiago Solari and Zinedine Zidane.

Zidane subsequently told Llorente that finding a new club would be his best option this summer, as he could not offer increased playing time next season.

Now, the player’s uncle and agent – Julio Llorente – has lifted the lid on negotiations this summer and how his client ended up at Atleti, even mentioning interest from Liverpool.

“All this started when Zidane told Marcos that he was going to have few minutes, that the best thing was to go, and at that moment I started to work, to communicate with the clubs that I think have the profile that Marcos can do well,” he told Cadena SER.

“One was Atlético. Obviously it ‘s hard because no player likes it when his boss tells him he does not want him, and for Marcos it has been hard. But he is a mature boy and he has accepted it with optimism.

“I contacted several clubs to let them know what had happened, the conversation that Zidane and Marcos had had, one of which was Liverpool, but Marcos was not a priority.

“Atlético is the one who took the strongest step and convinced us. I think we have done the right thing, I hope it’s like that, I hope Marcos will do very well.”

Jurgen Klopp is understandably happy with his options in the holding midfield role, with Fabinho filling that role nicely last season following his £40m arrival from Monaco.

The Reds played Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum in the deepest of three midfield roles last season, while Marko Grujic could yet feature next season despite links with a €40m exit.

 

AND THE REST

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis says Allan and Lorenzo Insigne can leave if suitable offers are lodged (Calciomercato)

Man Utd are open to selling Romelu Lukaku but have yet to receive a suitable offer from Inter Milan (ESPN)

Manchester United have dropped their interest in Paris Saint-Germain right-back Thomas Meunier (ESPN)

Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen has an offer on the table from Watford (Corriere dello Sport)

Edinson Cavani has confirmed that he wishes to stay at Paris Saint-Germain until the end of his current contract in 2020 (L’Equipe)

Juventus are set to hand Juan Cuadrado an extension that would run through until 2021 (Goal)

Dani Alves says he would like to play in England after confirming his exit from the Ligue 1 champions PSG (Globe Sports)

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is not interested in making a big-money move for Paul Pogba (Don Balon)

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has discussed transfer targets including Kostas Manolas and James Rodriguez at a recent event (gianlucadimarzio.com)

AC Milan could offer either Franck Kessie – valued at €40m – or Ricardo Rodriguez in part-exchange to sweeten a deal for Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira. (Goal)

Milan are increasingly confident they will be able to sign Torreira, and are readying a €5m loan offer with €30m obligation to buy. (Di Marzio)

Arsenal could turn to Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos – valued at €50m – as a direct replacement for Torreira. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Manchester City have held talks with Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici about a £44m deal to sign Portugal defender Joao Cancelo. (TuttoMercatoWeb)

Real Madrid may make a move for Ajax’s Donny van de Beek should they fail to land Paul Pogba. (Marca)

Bayern Munich will turn to Ousmane Dembele if they fail in their pursuit of Leroy Sane. (Bild)

Real Madrid have enquired about the possibility of a right to first refusal on Benfica defender Ruben Dias, who has been linked with Manchester United. (AS)

Liverpool do not intend to sell Simon Mignolet, and will only consider letting the keeper leave if the fee is acceptable. (ESPN)

Valencia are interested in signing wantaway Newcastle forward Ayoze Perez. (Goal)

Liverpool forward Divock Origi – who scored in the Champions League final win over Tottenham in June – is wanted by Real Betis, with the Spanish club preparing a bid of about £10m for the 24-year-old Belgium international. (Bein Sports)

Manchester United want Sevilla and France forward Wissam Ben Yedder and will trigger his £35.8m release clause. (ABC de Sevilla)

Stade de Reims goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has emerged as a transfer target for newly promoted Premier League clubs Aston Villa and Norwich City. (L’Equipe)

Celtic are moving closer to confirming the signing of French defender Christopher Jullien from Toulouse. (Le Depeche)

Romelu Lukaku’s agent Federico Pastorello has confirmed Inter’s interest in taking the Manchester United forward to Serie A.

Samir Nasri has been offered a contract of around €4 million (£3.6m) per year by UAE Pro-League side Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai FC. (Foot Mercato)

AC Milan are exploring the possibility of signing Lyon playmaker Nabil Fekir. (France Football)

Former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is in advanced negotiations for a return to Juventus from PSG on a one-year contract, with a future as a director. (Sky Italia)

Borussia Monchengladbach are poised to complete the signing of forward Breel Embolo from Schalke on Wednesday. (WAZ)

Roma winger Stephan El Shaarawy has agreed to join Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua in a £16.11m deal. (Il Tempo)

Torino are targeting AZ Alkmaar’s 22-year-old left-back Thomas Ouwejan. (Voetbal International)

Lille midfielder Thiago Mendes has agreed a move to Lyon. (RMC Sport)

 

 

The post Euro Paper Talk: Arsenal in pole position for 2 centre-backs and target cheaper Zaha alternative appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Matthew Briggs