Here are your Arsenal evening headlines for Tuesday, March 9, 2021.
Champions League changes that could affect Arsenal
Transfers between clubs in the Champions League could be banned under radical new financial reforms being proposed by top European clubs.
European Club Association president Andrea Agnelli revealed that the idea had been discussed by 184 of Europe’s top clubs at the ECA’s 25th general assembly on Monday.
Agnelli, who is the president of Juventus, said the move would help bridge the vast financial gap between Europe’s elite clubs and the rest.
It could also prevent the need for a salary cap among Champions League sides.
"We could think about double paths for the transfer system whereby clubs would qualify into two specific tiers of international competitions and wouldn't be allowed to buy each others' players,” he said.
"That would actually improve the amount of solidarity towards the other clubs. So there would be no triple-figures transfers among Champions League-participating clubs. Maybe we would focus on the champion players of smaller countries and buying players there.
"These are elements we are discussing."
Saka is Premier League's 'most promising' young player
The CIES Football Observatory has rated the most promising youngsters worldwide according to the amount of minutes they've played in their respective domestic leagues.
It also takes into account the level of the team they're playing for.
And Arsenal wonderkid Bukayo Saka tops the list for 2001-born players, ahead of Manchester United starlet Mason Greenwood.
Jadon Sancho, Alphonso Davies, and Erling Haaland led the way for players born in 2000, while Barcelona’s Pedri Gonzalez was ahead of St. Gallen’s Leonidas Stergiou as the top youngsters born in 2002.
In January, Saka was valued at €116.2million (£105.11m) - more than Barcelona starlet Ansu Fati (€108.4m), Tottenham captain Harry Kane (€107m), and Bayern Munich forward Serge Gnabry (€103.3m).
Hakimi open to £40m Arsenal transfer
Arsenal have once again been linked with a move for Inter Milan ace Achraf Hakimi as a potential replacement for Hector Bellerin.
Last month, The Athletic detailed that the right-back could be available at the end of the season due to the Italian side's financial struggles.
Inter landed the Morocco international last summer for a €40m fee from Real Madrid, but were unable to make their first €10m payment for the transfer, with the two sides agreeing to delay the first payment until the end of March.
Now the Mirror are reporting that further turmoil at Inter could benefit Arsenal.
It is claimed that the club's Chinese owners Suning Holdings Group may be looking to scale back their operation at Inter, which they own a 68.55 per cent stake of, and as a result, the club may look to raise funds by selling a number of stars.
Hakimi is one such player and could be available for £40million this summer, and reportedly would be open to a move so long as his £75,000-per-week wages are matched.
