ARSENAL are set to tie down Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a new three-year deal after they lifted the FA Cup trophy at the weekend.
Meanwhile, Chelsea winger Willian is reportedly joining the Gunners on a £100-a-week three-year deal, while Philippe Coutinho is in 'advanced talks' over a loan move to the Emirates.
Get all the latest news and transfer gossip from North London here…
DON'T MISS THE BOAT
Arsenal target Jerome Boateng is open to a Premier League move and could be available on a free next summer.
The German centre-back admitted he loved his short time in England with Manchester City and would not rule out a return to the UK.
The 76-cap German international told the Guardian: “I would not say no, I loved it when I was there.”
Boateng had an injury plagued season with City in the 2010/11 campaign but that hasn't put him off a Prem return.
He added: “For me it was really unlucky because I got injured straight away and then I didn’t really play the position they promised me.
“But I still took a lot from playing in the Premier League. It helped me a lot to play and train with great players.
“I am definitely down for it, but I don’t know the future.
“You never know. But it’s not that I would say: ‘I never want to play there.’ It’s one of my favourite leagues for sure.”
NEW DEAL FOR PEA
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to sign a new three-year Arsenal deal, according to reports.
The Gunners' most potent player, who scored 29 goals last season in all competitions, is set to be rewarding for scoring the winning goals in the FA Cup final.
VAR'S COME FAR
The Premier League has voted to get its VAR rules in line with that of other countries.
But 'armpit offside' decisions are staying – getting England in line with Fifa's law interpretations.
Decisions on goalkeeper encroachment during penalties will also be tweaked.
SCOUTS CULL
The aftermath of Arsenal's mass cull of staff is continuing to become clear.
Scouts in France, Germany, Belgium, Spain and Italy have been made redundant.
Francis Cagigao, the club's head of international scouting, was also let go by the club.
TIME FOR A CHANGE
Premier League clubs have voted to revert to a maximum of three substitutes and seven players on the bench for next season, reports MARTIN LIPTON.
The vote of the 20 clubs at their virtual summer meeting is understood to have demonstrated the divisions that exist.
While the top half of the league backed Chelsea proposals to continue to allow five substitutes from a bench of nine, they fell well short of the required two thirds majority.
Instead, the opposition to the proposal, led by Aston Villa, was joined by the teams in the lower half of the table.
Indeed, a majority of the clubs voted against the five sub plan, with a 10-10 tie on the proposal to stick with the larger bench.
Of the promoted trio, Leeds are understood to have backed retaining a bench of nine but joined fellow new boys West Brom and Fulham in rejecting five replacements being allowed.
GAB WANTS GUNNERS
Lille centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes wants to move to Arsenal despite Manchester United chasing him, according to reports.
The Brazilian defender looks almost certain to leave the Ligue 1 side this summer and is said to have been particularly impressed by talks with the Gunners earlier this week.
Mikel Arteta is keen on bringing a defender in to shore up his leaky back line.
And he looks set to land one in the coming weeks in the shape of the £27million rated 22-year-old, according to Get French Football News.
However, United will reportedly not give up on their pursuit with a deal to take him to Old Trafford said to be close yesterday.
Magalhaes’ scintillating form in France has drawn admiring glances from across Europe, with Everton and Napoli also linked.
WILLIAN STATS
Here is what the Brazilian will be bringing to the table for Arsenal.
- Games played 36
- Minutes played 2601
- Goals 9
- Assists 7
- Dribbles completed 65
- Dribble success 65%
- Crosses 78
- Passess 1188
- Duel success 57.9%
ROLLER COASTER
There have been a lot of highs and lows for Alexis Sanchez in fairness.
SANCH SIRO
Inter Milan have announced they have signed Alexis Sanchez permanently, without paying a penny.
The move frees up £25million for the Red Devils in wages after he joined from Arsenal in January 2018 before flopping miserably at Old Trafford.
Inter said in a statement: “FC Internazionale Milano announces that Alexis Sanchez is moving to the Nerazzurri outright free of charge.
“The Chilean striker has signed a contract with the Club until 30 June 2023.”
WRITTEN IN HIS WILL
Willian is joining Arsenal on a three-year deal, according to reports.
The Chelsea winger is walking away from the club at the end of his contract and will join the North London club for a £100,000-a-week deal.
ESPN claim the transfer is imminent and he will follow David Luiz to the Emirates.
NUMBER CRUNCHER
Here are Gabriel Magalhaes’ stats this season, with the defender attracting interest from Arsenal, Manchester United and Napoli.
Games played – 24
Goals – 1
Yellow cards – 3
Red cards – 0
Tackles – 41
Interceptions – 22
Duel win percentage – 67
Forward passes – 578
SMASH 'N GAB
Arsenal are making a move for Gabriel Magalhaes, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Gunners have been on the look-out to strengthen their defence.
And they are now ahead of Manchester United and Napoli in the race for the Brazilian, 22.
SCOUT'S DISHONOUR
Arsenal have reportedly SACKED the man responsible for discovering the likes of Hector Bellerin, Gabriel Martinelli and Cesc Fabregas.
It was announced on Wednesday that the London club are set to make 55 staff redundant as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
And according to Mail Online, one of the casualties of the cost-cutting is famed global scout Francis Cagigao.
The 51-year-old has been with the Gunners for over a decade, and helped the club unearth some real gems along the way.
Cagagio was responsible for bringing Fabregas in from the Barcelona academy as a 15-year-old in 2003.
He also scouted Bellerin from the Catalans before Arsenal made their move in the summer of 2011.
YOU MCNUGGETS
Ally McCoist can't believe Arsenal are making 55 people redundant, after the club's announcement last night.
The former Rangers star told talkSPORT: “I don't think you can defend it. I think the majority of Arsenal fans would agree with that.
“It's indefensible to think that [a] scout, somebody who has been at the club 30 to 35 years [is being let go]. Morally, I think it's an own goal.
“I understand the dilemma, particularly Arteta, he'll want to strengthen his squad.
“He wants to bring Willian in and you've got to keep Aubameyang.
“But you tell me how that can be morally right if you're offering somebody £100,000 a week when somebody on £200 is getting the sack.”
WILL HE OR WON'T HE?
Arsenal have made a formal three-year contract offer to Willian in the hope of fending off competition for the Chelsea star.
According to Sky Sports, that offer is still some way short of the terms offered by Barcelona and David Beckham's MLS outfit Inter Miami.
However, the Brazilian is keen to play under Mikel Arteta and work with Gunners technical director and countryman Edu.
MORNING, ARSENAL FANS
Philippe Coutinho and Gabriel Magalhaes have edged Willian out of the Emirates' transfer spotlight – at least for now.
Arsenal are said to be keener than ever on Barcelona's ex-Liverpool playmaker Coutinho.
And they are locked in a saga of speculation with Manchester United over Lille's £27million-rated defender Gabriel Magalhaes.
The Gunners remain overwhelming favourites to sign Chelsea winger Willian, 31, on a three-year deal.
But it's gone a bit quiet on that front over the past 24 hours.
Likewise, Gunners' fans are still waiting anxiously for more clues over the future of two-goal FA Cup final hero and skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Meanwhile, Kieran Tierney and Bukayo Saka have emerged as Arsenal's most popular players through sales of new shirts.
And Ryan Fraser, for so long linked with the Emirates, now seems more likely for a Premier League switch elsewhere.
The Scotland winger rejected a Bournemouth deal of around £67,000-a-week, whereas Crystal Palace are only offering £50k a week.
West Ham, Newcastle and Fulham are also reportedly interested.
COULD GUNNERS AIM FOR STONES?
Pep Guardiola hopes Nathan Ake can help solve the back problems that have plagued Manchester City for more than a year.
Bournemouth centre-back Ake, 25, arrived at the Etihad last night to put the finishing touches to his £41million move.
And with the Dutchman’s arrival, it seems inevitable John Stones – linked with Arsenal last season – will now leave after a nightmare 18-month spell.
From the minute they lifted the FA Cup to complete the domestic Treble in May 2019, City have had a gap at the heart of their defence.
That day, skipper Vincent Kompany announced in the Wembley dressing rooms he was leaving after 11 glorious years.
Pep wanted Harry Maguire last summer but City were not willing to pay Leicester’s £85m asking price — and rivals United were.
FRASER WALK-OUT MIGHT BACKFIRE
Ryan Fraser's decision to walk out on Bournemouth could backfire.
The Scot rejected a Cherries deal of around £67,000-a-week — but Crystal Palace are offering closer to £50,000 a week for the winger, who had hoped to earn a move worth at least double that.
Fraser, 26, is available on a free and was being tracked by elite clubs such as Arsenal and Tottenham after his stellar 2018/19 campaign, when he scored seven Premier League goals and 14 assists.
After failing to repeat that success, neither club has made a move.
It means Fraser’s options could be limited to Palace and West Ham, with Newcastle and Fulham also reported to be showing interest today.
And with the pandemic affecting football finances everywhere, the wages on offer may not be as lucrative as before Covid-19 struck.
TOP TIER
Kieran Tierney and Bukayo Saka have emerged as Arsenal's most popular players through shirt sales.
talkSPORT reveal how the Gunners pair have sold more shirts than any other of their team-mates since the launch of the new jersey.
That's including star man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang despite his brace in the FA Cup final at the weekend.
ALEXIT DAY FINALLY ARRIVES
Ex-Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez will finally – and officially – leave Manchester United tomorrow morning.
The £505,000-a-week flop's horror spell finally ends after Inter Milan confirmed they had signed him for free.
Chile star Sanchez, 31, has been on loan with Antonio Conte's side all season and looked much more the player United expected when they signed him in January 2018.
His future now lies in Serie A, with Old Trafford chiefs no doubt relieved to get his massive salary off the wage bill.
Inter CEO Beppe Marotta confirmed Sanchez had put pen to paper on a three-year deal.
Speaking before Inter's Europa League clash against Getafe in Germany, he said: “Unofficially, we’ll make it official tomorrow morning.
“The player is entirely owned by Inter. We have a contract with him for three seasons.
“We believe in him, that he can be a strong part of this squad and are happy to have concluded this deal.”
TRIPLE GUNNERS
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta reportedly wants at least three major signings.
That's £27million-rated Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes – as we've been hearing all day – plus Chelsea winger Willian.
Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho has shot up the list of contenders this week.
And Atletico Madrid anchorman Thomas Partey remains a preferred recruit – for a problem position.
Three out of those four wouldn't be bad…
FULHAM JOIN RYAN FIGHT
Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser seems sure to stay in the Premier League next season – and most likely in London.
Arsenal, Crystal Palace and now promoted Fulham are reportedly keen.
PALACE IN FOR ARSENAL TARGET FRASER
Long-term Arsenal target Ryan Fraser is now rated more likely to join Crystal Palace.
With the Gunners closing on Chelsea winger Willian, it seems Bournemouth winger Fraser might opt for a better chance of more regular first-team football.
It is thought the relegated Cherries have offered the 26-year-old a pay rise and new deal to stay.
But the Scotland star is still tipped to move on and stay in the Premier League.
GUNNERS HEAD GAB RACE
Arsenal are still duelling with Manchester United for £27million-rated Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes.
The odds have veered one way and the other in the past 24 hours.
But the Gunners once again seem favourites for the Brazilian.
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