Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Patson Daka, Odsonne Edouard, Donyell Malen, Houssem Aouar
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Your support makes all the difference.Follow all the latest Arsenal transfer news, rumours and gossip as Mikel Arteta’s side continue to monitor a number of forwards ahead of the January transfer window.
RB Salzburg’s Patson Daka, Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard and PSV’s Donyell Malen have all been linked with the Gunners, who are still keen to add attacking firepower to their squad amid a creative drought in the side.
The £45m deadline day signing of Thomas Partey has, of course, had a significant impact on the club’s budget, but Arteta remains a huge admirer of Lyon’s Houssem Aouar, although the Gunners are now likely to face competition from Juventus and PSG next summer. Follow all the latest news below:
How far away are Arsenal from what Mikel Arteta wants them to be?
DAKA BEING SCOUTED BY GUNNERS
Red Bull Salzburg’s Patson Daka is being scouted by Arsenal and Manchester City ahead of a potential summer move next year according to SportsMole.
The 22-year-old forward has been in stunning form for the Austrian side this season scoring 12 goals in 11 appearances across all competitions.
Arsenal have been named as potential suitors for the Zambia international, with City looking for a new striker after the injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero.
Daka is contracted to Salzburg until the summer of 2024 so any deal for the striker will likely come with a hefty transfer fee which could potentially put off the Gunners.
ARSENAL LINE UP AOUAR ALTERNATIVE
Over the summer Arsenal were heavily linked with two players Thomas Partey and Houssem Aouar.
A deadline day deal brought Partey to the Emirates and though deal for Aouar eluded the Gunners they are still keen to bring him to the club.
Arsenal had two bids turned down by Lyon for the France international, the second of which was the in the region of £35 million way below the price desired by the French side.
It is understood Arsenal are preparing another bid for the 22-year-old in January but are preparing alternatives if they can not got their man.
According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, one such alternative could be Red Bull Salzburg ace Dominik Szoboszlai.
The 20-year-old has scored 22 goals and provided 31 assists in 71 appearances for the Austrian champions and is said to be "in love with the Premier League".
Arsenal are currently monitoring the situation and could move in for Szoboszlai if a deal for Aouar does not look forthcoming.
NELSON REJECTED LOAN MOVE
Arsenal wanted to push Reiss Nelson into a loan move this summer to give the youngster more game time but the youngster rejected the calls to leave North London, even on a temporary basis.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says the 20-year-old was not keen on a move and instead elected to fight for a place in the team. He said:
"We ended up with a large squad at the end of the transfer market.
"We had a few plans in mind for Reiss. One of them was to send him on loan to get more minutes because of the competition we have up-front.
"The reality is he has been really good in training. He wants to stay here, he wants to fight for his place."
BALOGUN WILL ‘GET CHANCES’ UNDER ARTETA
Mikel Arteta insists that there is a place at the Emirates for striker Folarin Balogun after negoiations over a new deal for the 19-year-old have come to an impasse.
Balogun has been prolific for the Gunners at youth level but if frustrated at his lack of senior opportunities with the London side.
Arteta gave the teenager his senior debut last night, coming on as a second half substitute in the 3-0 victory over Dundalk and the Arsenal manager is hopeful he can convince Balogun to stay.
“He’s a player that I really like,” said Arteta in his post match press conference. "Obviously I’ve got this situation and I believe it’s later than what I would like because I wasn’t here when everything started to develop but yes, he’s a player that I would like to give chances to.
"That’s why he was in the squad today and I showed him that yes, we count on him and we believe in him and if he wants, he’s going to have a future in the club."
Balogun’s contract ends next summer and there are a few clubs that could snatch up the chance to sign him on a free transfer. Sheffield United made an official offer for the 19-year-old during the summer and a number of Bundesliga clubs are said to be interested in him.
WILLOCK NEEDS TO LEAVE SAYS HARGREAVES
Owen Hargreaves says Joe Willock should leave the Emirates in search of more game time to develop his overall play.
Speaking on BT Sport after Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Dundalk in the Europa League, Hargreaves praised Willock’s performance in the match where he scored one goal and assisted another.
It was Willock’s third start of the season for the Gunners after Carabao Cup appearances against Leicester and Liverpool but the 21-year-old is yet to feature in the Premier League which is a worry for Hargreaves who said:
“I think he’s a really good player. I think he’s going to get a chance to play,
“He showed [on Thursday] if he gets a chance he can play, he’s a good player. He can do so much.
“That’s what he gives you, he gets in the box at the right place at the right time.
“I thought I saw a bit more of that athleticism, rather than just coasting in there. I think his overall game is very good.
“He’s got great instincts. He has a good feel for the game. He’s very brave, he could be really good just depending on who is his partner – who is he with. I think there is a really good player in there. It is just about getting that right fit.
“At his age, he needs to play games. I think right now, at Arsenal, he is not going to get a ton of games.”
Follow all the latest Arsenal transfer news, rumours and gossip as Mikel Arteta’s side continue to monitor a number of forwards ahead of the January transfer window.
RB Salzburg’s Patson Daka, Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard and PSV’s Donyell Malen have all been linked with the Gunners, who are still keen to add attacking firepower to their squad amid a creative drought in the side.
The £45m deadline day signing of Thomas Partey has, of course, had a significant impact on the club’s budget, but Arteta remains a huge admirer of Lyon’s Houssem Aouar, although the Gunners are now likely to face competition from Juventus and PSG next summer.
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