Paper Talk: Emery eyes trio – but row looms over Arsenal budget
Unai Emery’s plans to sign three players this summer have suffered a blow after learning Arsenal’s spending will be capped, while Man Utd are close to tying an in-form star down to a double-your-money contract, according to Tuesday’s newspapers.
EMERY HEADING FOR ROW OVER ARSENAL FUNDS
Arsenal manager Unai Emery will only have £40m to spend in the summer, according to reports on Tuesday.
The Daily Mirror reports that the Spaniard – having been unable to sign a player on a permanent deal in January – has now been told his spending over the summer will be seriously down on what he was previously expecting.
And the paper reports that the news has come as something of a shock to the Gunners manager, with the Daily Mail claiming he had already targeted three positions he needed to strengthen as a matter of urgency this summer.
Having been heavily linked with a move for PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot – who as a free agent would certainly tick the right boxes for Arsenal – Emery is also thought to be keen on signing a new left-back and a new centre half.
The club were linked with a move for RB Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konate on Monday.
News that the club’s spending will be capped will also lead to further claims that top wage earner Mesut Ozil’s time at the club is coming to an end.
The German’s £350,000 a week wages are a serious drain on the club and allowing him to move on will give Arsenal much more scope to bring in new players this summer. Given the amount of time he has spent out of the Arsenal side, the news would not come as a major shock.
Arsenal have also been linked with a move to sign Lille’s Nicolas Pepe, but the forward, while admired by Arsenal, is not thought to be a priority this summer.
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AND THE REST
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, 21, is in talks over a new contract that would more than double his wages to over £150,000 per week (Daily Telegraph)
Chelsea have been angered by the claims Thibaut Courtois that director Marina Granovskaia reneged on promises over his future ahead the goalkeeper’s summer move to Real Madrid (Daily Telegraph)
Hatem Ben Arfa is pursuing £7m in compensation from Paris Saint-Germain for not playing him (Daily Telegraph)
Cardiff City have signed Republic of Ireland U19 player Aaron Bolger on loan from Shamrock Rovers (Daily Telegraph)
Neil Warnock’s future as Cardiff manager is in doubt over fears the Emiliano Sala tragedy is taking its toll (The Sun)
Tottenham star Harry Kane plans to step up his recovery from an ankle injury next week (The Sun)
Mark Warburton is behind an ambitious bid to buy Championship crisis club Bolton Wanderers (The Sun)
Andre Schurrle has revealed he will quit Fulham and return to Borussia Dortmund if the Cottagers are relegated – a year before the expiry of his two-year loan stint in south-west London (The Sun)
Liverpool have bid about €70m euros (£61.3m) for Napoli’s Italian striker Lorenzo Insigne
Bayern Munich will return with another £35m bid for 18-year-old Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi in the summer after failing to land the England Under-19 international in January (Daily Mail)
Jamie Vardy’s relationship with Claude Puel may have hit rock bottom after the player was picked up by cameras appearing to swear at his boss (Daily Mirror)
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley feels manager Rafa Benitez should now sign a new three-year-contract after he delivered the Spaniard’s top January transfer target (Daily Mirror)
Liverpool are at risk of losing Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, 26, if they fail to win the Premier League this season, according to former Reds striker Emile Heskey (Daily Express)
Tottenham are set to announce that next month’s north London derby against Arsenal will be at Wembley amid fears they will not open their new stadium this season (The Times)
The Reading striker Nelson Oliveira is ‘disgruntled’ that Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings will not face FA punishment (The Times)
Wilfried Zaha has requested a personal hearing in an attempt to escape a charge of improper conduct for sarcastically applauding a referee (The Times)
Genk right-back Joachim Maehle has encouraged Southampton to return for him in the summer after a failed January move (Daily Star)
Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp is in talks over a new contract at the club (Daily Star)