Here are the Arsenal morning headlines for Friday, August 14.
Willian wage higher than first thought
Willian has left Chelsea after seven trophy-laden seasons at the club and is set to join Arsenal on a three-year deal.
That is according to a report in the Daily Mail, via the Daily Star, outlining that the announcement on the deal has been pushed back by a week as to not coincide with the news that the club were laying off 55 staff.
It is said that the Brazilian is set to earn £220,000 per week at the Emirates, significantly more than the initially reported figures of £100,000.
While that is still less than his contract at Stamford Bridge, the loyalty bonuses and signing-on fees are set to exceed his previous deal.
Gunners move for Diawara
Arsenal have made an approach to sign Roma midfielder Amadou Diawara as an alternative to landing Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey.
football.london understands the Guinea international may be a more attainable target as Atleti continue to demand Partey’s £45million release clause as one lump sum.
Diawara, 23, is now on the Gunners shortlist and a deal could be facilitated by Lucas Torreira potentially moving the other way.
Both clubs share a strong relationship at boardroom level and have recently negotiated the future of Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Diawara made 31 appearances for the Gialorossi last season having previously played for Bologna and Napoli.
Madrid eye Lacazette swap deal
Spanish champions Real Madrid could offer one of their forwards in a swap deal to land Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette.
That is according to a report cited in CaughtOffside, who claim Lacazette could be an ideal option as back-up for fellow Frenchman Karim Benzema.
With the emergence of Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah, Lacazette’s prominence has decreased in recent months while Madrid may seek to offload back-up strikers Luka Jovic and Mariano Diaz.
