Euro Paper Talk: Arsenal on alert after desperate midfield wizard sounds out Prem move

Arsenal are put on alert after a star midfielder expresses his desire for a summer move, while Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has a defender in his sights – all in the latest Euro Paper Talk.

 

COUTINHO SOUNDS OUT ARSENAL, CHELSEA

Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho has named Arsenal and Chelsea as ideal next destinations when his loan spell at Bayern Munich comes to an end, according to reports.

Coutinho’s future remains uncertain due to him failing to settle at Barcelona following his move from Liverpool in January 2018.

The Brazilian spent a season and a half in Catalonia before being sent on loan to the German champions for a season, where he has been in mixed form.

According to Spanish publication Sport (via Sport Witness), Coutinho has told Barcelona that he intends to get another spell away from the club ahead of next season.

It is said that he would prefer a move back to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Chelsea said to be his favoured destinations.

However, a move to Manchester United or Tottenham have both been ruled out, the source also claims, with Coutinho also unwilling to drop his wages in any scenario.

Arsenal are enjoying the beginning of a new era with boss Mikel Arteta, whose side have only lost one game in 2020 following a poor run of form under Unai Emery.

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, meanwhile, has taken steps to improve his team with the signing of Hakim Ziyech, who will move to Stamford Bridge from Ajax ahead of the new campaign.

 

AND THE REST

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is keen on bringing Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci to the club to resolve his side’s defensive issues (Calciomercato)

Everton and West Ham are interested in a move for Barcelona striker Martin Braithwaite, who moved to the LaLiga giants on an emergency deal (Sport)

Wolves striker Raul Jimenez has insisted that playing in the Champions League is not a crucial factor that could see him leave the club (Excelsior)

A senior Barcelona executive has jokingly asked when Liverpool-linked striker Ousmane Dembele will be back fit so that he can be placed on the transfer market (AS)

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has said that he “condemns” himself for making a gesture to Pep Guardiola during the Manchester derby earlier this month (Canal 11)

 

 

Juventus are considering offering Douglas Costa in a swap deal for a number of targets, including Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus and United midfielder Paul Pogba (Calciomercato)

United have put a €28million price tag on Chris Smalling, which could see Roma shy away from making the defender’s loan move to the Serie A permanent (Calciomercato)

Mesut Ozil’s agent has reiterated that his client remains “happy” at Arsenal and there is no change to his contractual situation (Goal)

Exciting Lyon youngster Rayan Cherki has expressed his desire to move to Real Madrid and win the Ballon d’Or (Lyon TV)

RB Leipzig have begun the search for a replacement for defender Dayot Upamecano, who has been linked with Arsenal (Bild)

Dayot Upamecano TEAMtalk

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is willing to sign a new long-term contract at the club (Mundo Deportivo)

AC Milan stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma has deflected speculation over his future, insisting that his boyhood club is his number one priority (Ansa)

Juventus are considering a move for Real Madrid full-back Marcelo (Marca)

Philippe Coutinho was left angered by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy last summer after the Brazilian’s failed move to North London (Sport)