Transfer news LIVE: Chelsea target Erling Haaland and David Alaba, Liverpool given Kylian Mbappe boost

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says new signing Martin Odegaard was always fighting an uphill battle in comparison to Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

Odegaard signed for Real Madrid when he was 16-years-old, but has struggled to break into the staring XI at the Santiago Bernabeu.

He spent numerous season out on loan, and has now joined Arsenal on loan until the end of the season.

And Arteta states that Odegaard was never going to succeed when compared to Messi.

“I wouldn't even get close to that name you just mentioned (Messi) because it's a lost battle in my opinion,' Arteta said. 'Martin is Martin.

“In the last few seasons he's progressed and developed in the right way. I follow him very closely because he played for Real Sociedad which is my hometown and I know him really well.

“He's such a talent. He needs the right environment, a little bit of time, but he's got the qualities to be a success for us. He's a specialist playing in the pockets, to be in the No 8, No 10 positions.

“He can play on the sides, a really creative player, really comfortable on the ball in tight spaces, the capacity to create chances, to score goals.

“Something he has improved a lot is his work rate without the ball as well. It's another option to give us more creativity in the final third.”

Serie A side Udinese are leading the charge to sign Wolves striker Patrick Cutrone, according to Birmingham Live.

Cutrone had been on loan at Fiorentina, following a failed spell in England with the Midlands side.

Cutrone was signed from Milan in the summer of 2019, but struggled to adapt to English football.

He returned to Italy with La Viola, who signed him on a year-loan deal.

However, Cutrone again failed to make his mark, and was returned to Wolves.

Now it seems Udinese are willing to take a chance on the 23-year-old, despite signing Fernando Llorente this week.

Parma are also said to be interested in signing Cutrone.

A report in Spain claims that Leeds forward Rafa Mujica is set to join Las Palmas as early as today.

Rafa Mujica joined Leeds in 2019 but has failed to nail down a starting berth under Marcelo Bielsa.

He’s only made a single appearance for the club, in a pre-season friendly.

Mujica has spent the majority of his time out on loan to various clubs, with spells at Villarreal, Real Oviedo and Extremadura in Spain.

Arsenal’s long pursuit of Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar has become more difficult, as Juventus and Real Madrid have entered the fray for the Frenchman.

Arsenal were heavily-linked with a move for Aouar throughout the last transfer window, but due to the impact of Covid-19, couldn’t afford both he and Thomas Partey.

Ultimately, they moved on Partey on the final day of the window, signing him for £45m from Atletico Madrid.

It was thought that The Gunners would return for Aouar this summer. However, according to Sky Sport Italia, Juventus have entered the race to sign the 22-year-old.

Aouar was also linked with a move to Turin last summer, only for the club to opt to sign Federico Chiesa from Fiorentina instead.

Juventus and Lyon have a good relationship, and this could prove crucial in securing a deal.

Real Madrid are also said to be interested in signing Aouar.

French side AS Monaco could make a bid to sign Arsenal’s Lucas Torreira on loan until the end of the season.

Torreira is currently on loan at Spanish side Atletico Madrid, but has struggled to break into the first team under Diego Simeone.

It has been reported that Arsenal may consider cutting his loan spell short.

Now Talksport claim that Monaco could be Torreira’s next destination.

Leeds’ attempt to sign Fiorentina midfielder Erick Pulgar could be postponed until the summer, as it looks likely that the Chilean will remain in Florence.

The Yorkshire club have been linked with a move for the 27-year-old during this transfer window, with Calciomercato reporting that they were readying an offer of £22m.

Pulgar has fallen down the pecking order at the Stadio Artemio Franchi under Cesare Prandelli.

Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb speculate that the English side will return for Pulgar in the summer, as they don’t want to invest a large sum of money on a player at this juncture.

Cagliari and Sassuolo are also reportedly monitoring the Chilean.

Barcelona’s financial woes could open the door for Arsenal to sign Man City defender Eric Garcia.

According to a report in Spain, Barca’s financial difficulties, which is leading to their inability to sanction a deal for Garcia, could work in Arsenal’s favour.

Garcia has reportedly claimed that he would play for Barcelona for free until the end of the season, in order to push through his move.

The Spanish giants posted financial losses of €1.1bn this week, a consequence of the pandemic.

Arsenal, despite their own financial issues, could afford Garcia, valued at around €3m.

However it remains to be seen whether the defender would make the move to the London outfit.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba said he will hold talks with the club over extending his stay with the club.

Pogba returned to Old Trafford from Juventus in 2016, but has been repeatedly linked with a move ever since he arrived.

A return to Juventus or a move to Real Madrid seemed likely a year ago, but the outbreak of the pandemic changed the landscape.

Speaking to BT Sport, the Frenchman says he will talk to the club about renewing his deal, which expires in 2022.

“Everybody knows that I have one year left and I'm going to speak with the club and see what's going on,” Pogba told BT Sport.

“I am on contract, I am here, and I am enjoying myself.

“For now, my objective, my goal is to win something. That is all I'm thinking about. I will give all my energy to that, and the contract is not important.”

West Ham are said to be preparing another bid for Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri.

 En-Nesyri has emerged as one of the best strikers in the league this season, and scored a second hat-trick this month against Cadiz last weekend.

The Hammers are in the market for a striker since sanctioning the departure of Sebastian Haller to Ajax earlier in the window.

A first bid for En-Nesyri, thought to be in the region of £22m, was rejected by Sevilla.

Now, according to The Mirror, West Ham are preparing another offer to sign the Moroccan striker.

En-Nesyri is valued at around £37m by the Spanish side, but it remains to be seen whether the London outfit will meet their valuation of the 23-year-old.

Manchester City defender Eric Garcia is reportedly ready to sign for Barcelona and play for free.

The Spanish giants are in severe financial difficulties, with the club posting losses of €1.1 billion this week.

The club have been badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, and have been in negotiations with their squad to take a pay cut in recent months.

The Times reports that Garcia, who has fallen down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium, is ready to forgo any salary in order to push through his move back to the club where he played as a youth product.

City are reportedly demanding €3m for the defender, but given their financial state, Barcelona cannot afford a transfer fee and Garcia’s wages.