Arsenal’s transfer priorities and other dealings

Arsenal are reportedly preparing a substantial opening offer for Morgan Rogers, who has been identified as a primary transfer target. The Aston Villa and England player is said to be receptive to a move to North London, despite interest from Manchester United. Reports suggest that a fee exceeding £100m or £80m would be necessary for Aston Villa to consider his departure. Rogers, who featured for England in the World Cup, is capable of playing on the left flank and in midfield.

The Gunners have also reportedly been offered the opportunity to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, a player also targeted by Tottenham. However, Arsenal are said to have been deterred by Tonali’s reported wage demands. Additionally, Arsenal are understood to be preparing a second bid for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, following the rejection of an initial £55m offer. There are conflicting reports regarding a potential release clause in Guimaraes’s contract, with some sources suggesting a £60m clause exists, while others at Newcastle deny its presence.

In other developments, Arsenal have reportedly secured the permanent signing of Piero Hincapie for £35m. The club is also said to be pursuing a £10m deal for Leicester City wonderkid Jeremy Monga, and are considering a move for Celta Vigo defender Oscar Mingueza, whose contract is set to expire. Furthermore, Arsenal have reportedly been offered Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis, who could be available for around £35m.

Manchester United and Chelsea’s transfer activities

Manchester United have scheduled a medical for Cristian Orozco, a teenage player from Fortaleza CEIF in Bogota. An agreement for his transfer to Old Trafford was reached last year, and he is expected to travel to the UK for medical tests before his official announcement. Orozco, a defensive midfielder, is a captain for Colombia at youth level.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have reportedly made an initial offer for Granit Xhaka, which was rejected by Sunderland. Sunderland considers the midfielder not for sale, despite suggestions that he wishes to return to London. Chelsea are also increasing their interest in Maxence Lacroix and are eyeing Pep Chavarria as a potential replacement for Marc Cucurella. Marco Palestra is expected to finalise his move to Stamford Bridge as the first new arrival of the Xabi Alonso era.

Liverpool and other club movements

Liverpool are reportedly considering a move for Bradley Barcola after a setback in their pursuit of Yan Diomande. Diomande is said to prefer a move to Paris Saint-Germain, with whom he reportedly has an agreement on personal terms. Liverpool had previously secured Victor Munoz from Osasuna earlier this month.

In other transfer news, Barcelona have reportedly approached Harry Kane’s representatives regarding a potential move after the World Cup, though Kane is said to be keen on extending his contract with Bayern Munich. Barcelona are seeking a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who is set to join MLS club Chicago Fire as a free agent. Eli Junior Kroupi has reportedly indicated Paris Saint-Germain as his preferred destination should he leave Bournemouth this summer.

Tottenham are reportedly confident of signing Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, despite reports that Tonali would prefer to join Arsenal. Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford is reportedly prepared to take a pay cut to join Tottenham this summer. Bayern Munich and Tottenham are both interested in Juventus defender Bremer, but the player is reportedly content to remain in Turin.

Source: standard.co.uk

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Kone’s World Cup Performances Draw Attention

Roma midfielder Manu Kone has been linked with a move to Arsenal, with reports from Italy suggesting that personal terms have been agreed. The 25-year-old, who has just completed his second season with Roma, is currently representing France at the World Cup. His performances in the tournament have reportedly increased his transfer value.

Kone started in France‘s recent group match against Norway, a game that determined the top spot in their group. This follows his appearance in the tournament opener against Senegal, where he did not start due to an injury. However, he has since returned to full fitness and delivered an impressive performance in holding midfield during France‘s victory over Iraq.

During the match against Norway, Kone’s early involvement was notable. He delivered a diagonal ball to Ousmane Dembele, which opened up the Norway defence. He also contributed defensively, dispossessing Leo Ostigard, leading to Kylian Mbappe setting up Dembele for the opening goal. Kone’s ability to disrupt opposition build-up play was also evident, as he frequently pressed at opportune moments.

Praise from Patrick Vieira

Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira has expressed significant admiration for Kone, describing him as the ‘best midfielder in France.’ Vieira, speaking on punditry duty, stated that he would rate Kone above both Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot due to his mobility, aggression, ball-winning ability, and technical skills in breaking lines and playing forward.

Vieira acknowledged that Kone had a challenging season leading up to the World Cup due to injuries. Despite this, Kone’s current focus remains on the international tournament. Ahead of France‘s opener against Senegal, Kone stated his desire to concentrate solely on his commitments with Les Bleus, deferring any discussions about his future until after the World Cup.

Arsenal‘s interest in Kone comes as manager Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his midfield. While Inter Milan have also shown interest, Arsenal has emerged as a front-runner. Reports indicate that Roma is seeking at least €50 million for the midfielder. Kone has already played 250 club matches across three leagues.

Transfer Speculation and Roma’s Stance

The speculation surrounding Kone’s future has intensified with his strong performances at the World Cup. Roma had previously resisted strong pushes from Inter to acquire Kone, both last summer and in January. The club is reportedly hoping to retain Kone, especially after qualifying for the Champions League.

However, Roma is also aware of Arsenal‘s significant interest, which could be appealing to the player. Kone’s consistent inclusion in the France starting XI, including four of the six qualifying matches for the tournament, highlights the confidence placed in him by coach Didier Deschamps. His work-rate, positioning, and ability to perform under pressure have been noted.

While Kone’s quality is undeniable, some aspects of his play have been observed. For instance, a missed tackle led to a penalty being conceded in the match against Norway. His approach to play when not in possession has also been mentioned as something that might be scrutinised by Premier League viewers. Nevertheless, his football intelligence and vision are considered to be advanced for his experience level.

Kone’s current focus remains on the World Cup, a tournament he has always dreamed of playing in.

Source: standard.co.uk

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England will assess the fitness of Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice and Chelsea defender Reece James before their final World Cup group stage match against Panama. The assessments will take place prior to Saturday’s fixture in New Jersey.

Rice was seen limping after England’s goalless draw against Ghana on Tuesday, with heavy strapping on his left calf. Despite this, sources suggest there is no significant concern that the issue will impact his long-term involvement in the United States. However, the injury requires assessment and rest before a decision can be made regarding the 27-year-old’s availability for the upcoming match. England’s manager and staff will need to consider the risks of playing him.

This is not the first time Rice has experienced discomfort, as he was also substituted in the game against Croatia due to nerve pain in a sore hamstring he has been managing. He has reportedly been playing through “neural pain” in his hamstring since Christmas. Rice has played a total of 63 matches across the 2025/26 season, which is the most of any player in the England squad.

Jamie Carragher, a pundit, believes that Rice’s importance to the team means he cannot be rested. He noted that Rice’s substitution against Croatia was likely a precaution for discomfort in his lower back and upper hamstring, an issue he has been carrying for much of the season without it significantly affecting his performance for Arsenal.

James will also undergo assessment as England prepares for Saturday’s game. The 26-year-old completed the entire match against Ghana but will be checked by medical staff in the coming hours. The Chelsea captain has a history of injuries, and his workload will be closely monitored.

Squad Fitness Concerns

Beyond Rice and James, other players have also faced fitness challenges. Bukayo Saka, Rice’s Arsenal teammate, entered the tournament with an Achilles problem. He was confined to the bench against Croatia and Ghana, though he did come on in both matches.

Carragher suggested that Saka’s situation might be more serious than Rice’s, given that he did not start the first game and missed a significant amount of football last season. He advised against risking Saka, to avoid losing him for the tournament. However, Carragher also acknowledged that the longer Saka remains on the bench, the more difficult it could be for him to displace Noni Madueke, who started on the right-hand side in the opener.

Another area of discussion has been the central defence. John Stones partnered Ezri Konsa against Croatia, despite Stones having played fewer than 440 Premier League minutes last season, while Marc Guehi was on the bench. Stones appeared to be off the pace, particularly for Croatia’s opening goal.

Carragher expressed surprise that Guehi did not start and suggested that Guehi would be his first choice in the back four. He also voiced concerns about Stones’ match fitness, given his limited playing time over the past few years. Despite this, Carragher would give Stones another opportunity to play, hoping he can regain full match fitness by the knockout stages.

Group Stage Progress

England currently leads their group with four points after two matches. Ghana also has four points. Croatia, after overcoming Panama 1-0 on Tuesday, has three points. Panama remains on zero points, having lost both of their games 1-0.

After the goalless draw with Ghana, the England manager stated that the team does not need a wake-up call, assuring that everyone is alert and fully committed. He dismissed any notion of overconfidence, suggesting that if anything, there might have been moments of over-cautiousness. The manager emphasised the importance of not letting the highs get too high or the lows get too low, describing the draw as a difficult match rather than a low point. England will aim to win their final group match against Panama on Saturday.

Source: bbc.co.uk

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