ARSENAL are stepping up on their pursuit for Manchester United star Marcus Rashford this summer.
The out of favour England international has struggled to impress this season and Mikel Arteta could be willing to revitalise his career at the Emirates.
Any money spent on Rashford will be recouped by Arsenal's FOUR deals that are expected to accumulate around £41.6 million in the transfer window.
And Ben White was a starter for England in their win over Switzerland, following the late withdrawal of John Stones during the warm-up.
It comes just a day after he responded to criticism from Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher.
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- Alex Cole
Not a Rash decision
Arsenal are plotting a shock summer transfer swoop for Marcus Rashford, according to reports.
The Manchester United forward is enduring a rough time at Old Trafford this season.
However, according to the Mirror, Rashford could be offered an escape route out of Old Trafford by Arsenal, as the Gunners look to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's goals.
Credit: Getty He has hit a barren run of form and slipped way down the pecking order – with just five goals in 26 appearances across all competitions and two completed 90 minutes.
The England international was dropped by Gareth Southgate for the current Three Lions camp.
- Joshua Jones
Good morning to Gunners fans
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Youri Tielemans and Darwin Nunez top the transfer speculation list.
And Gunners' midfielder Granit Xhaka impressed as he played all the game for Switzerland in their 2-1 friendly defeat against England at Wembley.
Newcastle and West Ham are expected to rival Arsenal for Everton forward Calvert-Lewin.
The Toffees are reportedly willing to sell due to worries over Financial Fair Play awards.
And Gunners' boss Mikel Arteta – 40 yesterday – is expected to make recruiting a proven scorer one of his summer priorities.
Meanwhile, star Leicester midfielder Tielemans has suggested he wants to play Champions League football.
Arsenal and Manchester United remain the Belgian's main suitors.
So it's an extra incentive for the Gunners to hold onto fourth place in the Prem ahead of the Red Devils and Tottenham.
Finally, Newcastle are said to be rivalling Arsenal for Benfica forward Nunez.
- Ian Tuckey
Gunners linked to Dom swoop
Arsenal, Newcastle and West Ham are tipped to pursue Dominic Calvert-Lewin after suggestions Everton are ready to sell their England striker.
The Toffees reportedly have worries over Financial Fair Play awards and Calvert-Lewin is arguably their most valuable asset.
Credit: Getty
- Ian Tuckey
Roma 'back in for Granit'
Roma have reportedly reignited their interest in signing Granit Xhaka from Arsenal.
Jose Mourinho has been keen to sign the midfielder since he arrived in Italy last year.
Xhaka was also open to the move, but the two clubs could not agree on a fee.
But, according to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, a deal could finally be struck this summer.
- Ian Tuckey
40 up for Arteta
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta can properly relax for his 40th birthday – as it's the international break.
And when he returns he'll hope to cement the Gunners' top-four spot.
- Ian Tuckey
Arsenal, Toon & Hammers in Calvert-Lewin boost
Arsenal, Newcastle and West Ham are tipped to pursue Dominic Calvert-Lewin after suggestions Everton are ready to sell their England striker.
The Toffees reportedly have worries over Financial Fair Play awards and Calvert-Lewin is arguably their most valuable asset
Credit: Getty - Ian Tuckey
Mourinhopredicted Hazard's Real hell
Eden Hazard's injury hell at Real Madrid was predicted by his former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in 2015.
Hazard's spell at Los Blancos has been blighted by repeated setbacks since joining from the Blues three years ago.
Hazard, 31, has picked up his 16th injury at the Bernabeu – with the Belgium international to to have surgery on his right leg in order to remove a plate.
He will now miss Real's Champions League quarter-final first leg tie against his former side at Stamford Bridge on April 6.
In 2016 it was revealed Hazard was the most fouled player in the Premier League.
A year beforehand, while Mourinho worked with the winger, the Special One warned the forward's career could be cut short due to constant fouls.
He said: "People [are] in love with football in this country – people must be in love with Eden Hazard. The way, match after match, he's being punished by opponents and he's not being protected by referees, maybe one day we won't have Eden Hazard.
"It's one, two, three, four, five, ten aggressive fouls against him. They kick and kick and kick, and the kid resists. He's a very honest guy in the way he plays, but that's another problem."
- Ian Tuckey
Latest: England 2 Switzerland 1
Harry Kane's 78th minute penalty put England in front for the first time.
Steven Zuber's handball from a Marc Guehi header was penalised by VAR, enabling Kane to draw level with Bobby Charlton from the spot as the Three Lions' all-time top scorer on 49 goals.
Click on our match blog HERE for updates from Wembley in this friendly.
- Ian Tuckey
Youri boost for Arsenal & Man Utd
Youri Tielemans has put Arsenal and Manchester United on red alert after declaring he wishes to play Champions League football.
And that will be a boost to Mikel Arteta with his Gunners side in pole position to finish fourth this season ahead of the Red Devils and rivals Tottenham.
Tielemans faces an uncertain future at the King Power Stadium with the Belgium international having just one year left on his contract.
Arsenal reportedly held talks with the midfielder's representatives in January over a potential switch to the Emirates.
Meanwhile United have identified the ex-Monaco ace as a cheaper alternative to West Ham's Declan Rice and Leeds' Kalvin Phillips.
Tielemans could be sold in the upcoming transfer window with it claimed he has rejected a bumper new deal to stay in the Midlands.
And in a boost for Arsenal and United, the Foxes are said to have slashed their asking from £60million to just £35m to avoid losing him on a free.
Commenting on his future, Tielemans has revealed he is not thinking about next season, but stressed he wants to be competing for Europe's premier tournament.
He told Het Laatste Nieuws: "I don’t worry about it [speculation].
"I want to get the most out of myself this season and finish as high as possible with the team.
- Ian Tuckey
H/T: England 1 Switzerland 1
Luke Shaw punished woeful Swiss defending in first-half stoppage time to cancel out Breel Embolo’s superb headed opener.
It rescued the Three Lions' from a poor show, with Arsenal's Ben White vulnerable in central defence and the visitors lively
Click on our match blog HERE for updates from Wembley in this friendly.
- Ian Tuckey
LATEST: England 0 Switzerland 1
Breel Embolo's bullet header from a fine cross put the Swiss in front from one of the first moments of real quality.
Arsenal centre-back Ben White should arguably have done much better as he seemed to get stuck underneath the ball.
Click on our match blog HERE for updates from Wembley in this friendly.
- Ian Tuckey
LIVE: England 0 Switzerland 0
Our LIVE MATCH BLOG will have blow-by-blow updates.
Click HERE for updates from Wembley as the Three Lions, in their changed blue kit, feel their way into this friendly.
- Ian Tuckey
White in for Stones
Arsenal’s Ben White has replaced John Stones in England’s central defence after the Manchester City star pulled up in practice before the 5.30pm kick-off with Switzerland.
- Ian Tuckey
Xhaka starts against England
Crystal Palace central defender Marc Guehi and Southampton right-back Kyle Walker-Peters make their England debuts in this evening's friendly with Switzerland.
Manchester United skipper Harry Kane is only a sub.
Palace's huge input also includes on-loan Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher earning his second cap and Tyrick Mitchell being a sub.
Arsenal anchorman Granit Xhaka and ex-Liverpool playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri start for the visitors.
England XI: Pickford, Walker-Peters, Guehi, Stones, Coady, Shaw, Gallagher, Henderson, Mount, Foden, Kane.
Switzerland XI: Omlin, Widmer, Akanji, Frei, Embolo, Freuler, Xhaka, Steffen, Rodriguez, Vargas, Shaqiri.
- Ian Tuckey
Toon 'fight Arsenal for Nunez'
Newcastle are ready to fight Arsenal for Benfica striker Darwin Nunez, according to reports.
The Magpies are set for another big transfer window, with their controversial Saudi owners set to oversee their first summer at St James' Park.
In January they splashed the cash on Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes, Chris Wood, Dan Burn and Matt Targett.
And according to The Athletic, they could begin this summer's splurge with a £50million swoop for Nunez.
On their podcast Pod on the Tyne, reporter Chris Waugh revealed that the Toon are enamoured by the 22-year-old striker.
Waugh said: "He’s someone Newcastle, certainly Steve Nickson the head of recruitment, has liked for a long while, they’ve watched a lot.
"There was almost surprise in January that they didn’t make a bid in the end because there has been a lot of interest.
"They’ve watched him extensively."
- Ian Tuckey
How Arsenal lined up in last Koscielny game
Laurent Koscielny has announced his retirement from football aged 36 following a bitter January exit from Bordeaux.
The defender departed the Ligue 1 side after being frozen out, and hasn't found a club in the meantime.
Since his exit Koscielny has been accused of racist behaviour by Bordeaux ultras – allegations that he vehemently denies.
The former France international also left Arsenal on poor terms back in 2019, following nine years in North London.
Despite being club skipper, Koscielny refused to jet out on their pre-season tour in order to force through a transfer.
He eventually got his wish, meaning that the 2019 Europa League final was the last of his 353 appearances for the club.
Unai Emery's side were mauled 4-1 by Chelsea that day, with their former forward Olivier Giroud coming back to haunt the Gunners that day – while Eden Hazard put on a masterclass to bring his time at Stamford Bridge to an end.
Arsenal's starting XI that day featured just two players that remain with the club to this day.
- Ian Tuckey
Tite linked with Gunners
Brazil boss Tite is reportedly in talks with Arsenal over a potential job once he departs his position after the 2022 World Cup.
The 60-year-old is poised to leave his role within the Selecao set-up later this year after the tournament in Qatar.
And it has been claimed that he could be heading to the Emirates following discussions with Gunners technical director Edu.
The pair worked together when Tite was the Corinthians gaffer and Edu was their director of football.
During ESPN’s broadcast of Brazil’s 4-0 win against Chile on Thursday, in which Gabriel Martinelli made his international debut, TV Globo reporter Eric Faria spoke of the talks.
He said: “There is already a negotiation of Tite to work in English football.
“To work at Arsenal. He worked with Edu Gaspar.
“There is the intention, negotiations have started.”
- Alex Cole
How Arsenal lined up the last time Laurent Koscielny played
Laurent Koscielny has announced his retirement from football aged 36 following a bitter January exit from Bordeaux.
Arsenal lined up the last time Laurent Koscielny played with just TWO surviving 2019 Europa League final thrashing.
The defender has departed Ligue Bordeaux 1 after being frozen out, and hasn't found a club in the meantime.
The former France international also left Arsenal on poor terms back in 2019, following nine years in North London.
Despite being club skipper, Koscielny refused to jet out on their pre-season tour in order to force through a transfer.
He eventually got his wish, meaning that the 2019 Europa League final was the last of his 353 appearances for the club.
Unai Emery's side were mauled 4-1 by Chelsea that day, with their former forward Olivier Giroud coming back to haunt the Gunners that day – while Eden Hazard put on a masterclass to bring his time at Stamford Bridge to an end.
Arsenal's starting XI that day featured just two players that remain with the club to this day.
- Alex Cole
Xhak attack
Roma have reportedly reignited their interest in signing Granit Xhaka from Arsenal.
Jose Mourinho has been keen to sign the midfielder since he arrived in Italy last year.
Xhaka was also open to the move, but the two clubs could not agree on a fee.
But, according to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, a deal could finally be struck this summer.
Mourinho is said to be very impressed with the 29-year-old's personality and performances this season, so much so that he is eager for the club to make a bid for the upcoming transfer window.
The only potential issue that could prevent the move is the cost.
Arsenal were demanding a fee of at least £21.5million for Xhaka last year, whilst Roma were only willing to pay £10million.
- Alex Cole
Arsenal and Man Utd ‘consider Tammy Abraham transfer swoop’
Arsenal and Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Tammy Abraham in the summer.
The England international has flourished since leaving Chelsea for Italian giants Roma, scoring 23 goals in 40 appearances for Jose Mourinho's side this season.
And the former Blues man's displays in the Italian capital have reportedly caught the eye of United and Arsenal – both of whom are in the market for a new striker.
That's according to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, who claim United are contemplating signing Abraham as a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo.
- Alex Cole
Arsenal in transfer fight with Spurs for ‘next Patrick Vieira’
Arsenal are reportedly in a transfer battle with rivals Tottenham for Rennes wonderkid Lesley Ugochukwu – dubbed the next Patrick Vieira.
The French midfielder turns 18 today but is already attracting plenty of attention with his performances.
According to L'Equipe, the North London enemies have been taking a keen look at him in recent weeks.
Credit: Getty This season he has made 17 appearances across Ligue 1 and the Europa Conference League.
Most of those have been off the bench, including when he scored his only senior goal in a 5-0 thumping of Saint-Etienne in December.
And both Arsenal and Tottenham could look to pounce with summer offers.
- Alex Cole
Xhaka ahead of Switzerland clash
Granit Xhaka is delighted Arsenal teammates Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka will be missing for England’s clash with Switzerland.
But the Swiss skipper, 29, insists he does not fear a Three Lions midfield brimming with talent.
Gunners pair Ramsdale and Saka were originally named in Gareth Southgate’s squad to take on Switzerland and Ivory Coast in friendlies during this international break.
Keeper Ramsdale was ruled out with a hip injury suffered against Liverpool on March 16, while Saka left the camp on Thursday having tested positive for Covid-19.
Xhaka said: “Two of them are not playing so that is good.
“We know the quality they have. Of course, they have a very good generation now, playing well, not only in the national team but with Arsenal as well.
“So, we are happy Saka and Aaron are not playing tomorrow.
“But I think England have a very strong with a lot of young players, and they have experienced players as well."
- Alex Cole
Brazil coach Tite in talks with Arsenal
Brazil boss Tite is reportedly in talks with Arsenal over a potential job once he departs his position after the 2022 World Cup.
The 60-year-old is poised to leave his role within the Selecao set-up later this year after the tournament in Qatar.
And it has been claimed that he could be heading to the Emirates following discussions with Gunners technical director Edu.
The pair worked together when Tite was the Corinthians gaffer and Edu was their director of football.
During ESPN's broadcast of Brazil's 4-0 win against Chile on Thursday, in which Gabriel Martinelli made his international debut, TV Globo reporter Eric Faria spoke of the talks.
He said: "There is already a negotiation of Tite to work in English football.
"To work at Arsenal. He worked with Edu Gaspar.
"There is the intention, negotiations have started."
- Joshua Jones
Good morning to Gunners fans
Mikel Arteta’s long-term future as Arsenal manager is in question after it emerged that talks had taken place between the Premier League club and Brazil coach Tite.
According to sensational reports in South America, Gunners sporting director Edu has identified his compatriot as the man he wants to take the Londoners forward.
Tite is contracted to the Brazil national team until the completion of this year’s World Cup, but could be installed at the Emirates for the beginning of the 2023-24 season.
Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate has revealed that the problem that kept Emile Smith Rowe out of England training this morning is not a major one, but he’s unlikely to feature against Switzerland at Wembley tomorrow.
Discussing fitness issues within the squad at yesterday afternoon’s press conference, the Three Lions boss said: “Emile [Smith Rowe] did not train today so he is unlikely to be involved tomorrow. It’s nothing too serious, but we’ll check on him late to see if he can take part.”
However, Southgate’s perplexed as to why Smith-Rowe’s Arsenal team-mate Bukayo Saka can’t remain on international duty after being struck with Covid.
Southgate said: “I’m lost on the rules really.
“I can’t sit here and give a medical download of all that. I’m not quite sure why he is out because I think you can carry on now with normal life.
“I think people have an ethical responsibility if they’re positive to stay away from others and stop the spread but by the normal rules of life he could carry on.
“Football rules are a bit different but I’m in a maze of confusion frankly.”
Elsewhere, Arsenal have reportedly approached wantaway Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele.
Dembele’s contract with Barca is up in the summer and according to Spanish outlet El Chiringuito TV, the Gunners want to bring him to the Emirates.
Talks between the parties have already begun as the report states Dembele’s agent Moussa Sissoko has met with the North London side.
Finally, Darren Bent doesn’t think Arsenal should try and sign Gareth Bale from Real Madrid.
Bent reckons the Welsh veteran will stifle Saka and Gabriel Martinelli’s growth at the club.
He told talkSPORT: “It’s not that he is not good enough, but he has got Saka in front of him, Martinelli, these guys are getting better and better.
“You don’t want to stunt their development.”
- Justin Lawrence
Xhaka's joy for England game
Granit Xhaka is happy that Arsenal team-mates Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe will miss England's game against Switzerland.
The Swiss captain said: “Two of them are not playing tomorrow so it’s good because we know the quality they have.
“Of course they have a very good generation now, playing very well, not only in the national team but with Arsenal as well.
“We’re happy that Saka and Aaron are not playing tomorrow.”
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