Good evening, Arsenal fans. Here are your evening headlines for Thursday, August 13.
Joorabchian criticises former Arsenal chief
Kia Joorabchian has hit out at Arsenal's former head of recruitment Sven Mislintat amid claims the agent is influencing the Gunners' transfer decisions.
Joorabchian is close to Arsenal's head of football Raul Sanllehi and technical director Edu and over the past year several of his clients, David Luiz, Cedric Soares and Pablo Mari, have all arrived at the Emirates.
Willian and Philippe Coutinho are also looked after by Joorabchian and have been linked with moves to north London this summer.
Speaking to talkSPORT: “People forget about the previous guy, Sven.
"He made a bunch of, I don't like to use the word, but, c**k-ups with players he brought in at very, very large numbers.”
Willian future has been decided
In the same interview, Joorabchian also touched on Willian’s future.
The winger officially left Chelsea last week and is expected to sign with Arsenal in the coming days.
“He is a free player,” Joorabchian told talkSPORT.
“He had a fantastic seven years at Chelsea, he’s been under various managers, he’s won multiple trophies and he has a fantastic relationship with Frank[Lampard], he respected him a lot.
“But I think that cycle had come to a moment where it’s a good moment to leave.
“At the moment, just for now, I can't say where he’s going to go, for sure Arsenal are one of the contenders. But it won't be long before we announce it.
“We know where he’s going, so it won't be long."
Roma will not entertain swap deal
Roma are not prepared to let Arsenal target Amadou Diawara leave the club this summer in a swap deal.
Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, via Sport Witness, have stated that a potential swap deal involving Lucas Torreira is unlikely as the Uruguayan’s wages are an issue for Roma.
Instead, should Arsenal make an approach for Diawara, they will have to meet Roma’s reported €20 million valuation.
Torreira, meanwhile, slipped out of the starting line-up before lockdown, then suffered an ankle injury, and has fallen down the midfield pecking order.
Even with Matteo Guendouzi expected to leave in the summer, the midfielder is seemingly not a key part of Mikel Arteta’s plans.
