Arsenal handed boost for James Maddison alternative as Edu's role in £34m transfer is revealed

Here's all the news from around the Emirates Stadium over the past 24 hours.

Neves to Arsenal?

Granit Xhaka is set to leave the Gunners very soon, with personal terms agreed over a switch to AS Roma to team up with Jose Mourinho.

However, the two clubs are yet to agree on a fee for the Switzerland midfielder.

If Xhaka does complete a move to the Italian capital, as expected, then Mikel Arteta will be on the lookout to bring a new midfield partner for Thomas Partey to the Emirates Stadium.

One man that has been heavily linked with Arsenal is Ruben Neves of Wolves, with the Midlands club reportedly open to selling him for £35million.

Now, according to The Sun, Neves' agent Jorge Mendes is in 'constant communication' with Arsenal director Edu over a summer move to the Emirates.

But the aforementioned £35m price tag is proving to be a 'stumbling block' in negotiations between the two parties.

Read more.

Maddison alternative

Martin Odegaard's potential Arsenal return could be back on.

As reported by The Athletic, La Liga will reduce Real Madrid's wage budget meaning some high earners must leave.

Therefore, Odegaard along with Raphael Varane and Isco - also linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium - are among those said to be available for a transfer this summer.

With an estimated transfer value of €30m-€40m (£25m-(£34m) as per the CIES Football Observatory, Odegaard could be a cheaper alternative to Leicester City's James Maddison who could cost £60m.

And he's already made it clear that another loan deal is off the table.

Full story.

Edu planning Locatelli talks

Another day, another update in regards to the future of Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli.

The Italy international, who has a reported £34m price tag, has been linked with both Arsenal and Juventus this summer and it's looking likely that he will be on the move.

Reports in Italy claim that Locatelli favours a move to the Bianconeri, but it would appear that the Gunners are not giving up hope.

According to journalist Ekrem Konur, as per the tweet above, Arsenal have apparently made the best financial offer to Sassuolo for Locatelli.

Furthermore, despite the fact that the 23-year-old wants to join Juve, Gunners technical director Edu is said to be planning a speech to convince Locatelli that moving to the Emirates Stadium is the best decision for his career.

If the Italian really does have his heart set on Juventus, it is going to take an amazing speech from the Brazilian to change his mind.