Here are the Arsenal morning headlines for Friday, June 12.
Arsenal want to sign left-back Umut Meras - report
Mikel Arteta is interested in bringing Turkish left-back Umut Meras to the club this summer to provide competition for Kieran Tierney, according to Hurriyet (via the Daily Star).
Meras, who played for French Ligue 2 club Le Havre, is also reportedly wanted by Porto, who see him as the ideal replacement for Alex Telles should he leave to join Chelsea or Paris Saint-Germain.
Porto are believed to be ahead of Arsenal in the race for the 24-year-old, who has impressed throughout the campaign.
Arsenal have reportedly been scouting him all year, although that mission will have stopped since France announced football will be suspended until September.
Odsonne Edouard is focused on Celtic despite Arsenal rumours
Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard has spoken at length about his dreams for the future in Scotland, suggesting he is expecting to stay at the club.
Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing the 22-year-old, who scored 28 goals this season before the Scottish Premiership was ended early, and after Celtic were awarded their ninth successive title he seems keen to remain for the record 10th.
“Every season we want to win the title,” Edouard told Celtic TV.
“This year is nine in a row, and next year I hope it is 10 in a row. This will be historic for the club. It’s very important for the club, for the fans, for the team, for all of the staff. We now need to go back to work for next season, and I hope that we can win this title for 10 in a row.”
His comments will come as a blow to Arsenal fans hopeful Edouard could be lured to the Emirates as a long-term replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who only has 12 months remaining on his contract.
Bernd Leno optimistic about Arsenal’s chances of Champions League qualification
Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno believes the club have a realistic chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, when the Premier League season resumes next week.
The Gunners are currently ninth in the table and eight points behind Chelsea in fourth, but Manchester City’s possible European ban has given Leno hope.
If City are ineligible, then fifth place would be enough to secure Champions League football. Arsenal can beat Pep Guardiola’s side next Wednesday and move to within just two points of Manchester United in fifth.
"I hope we can get into Europe," he told dfb.de.
"We’re not ruling out the Champions League places because we might get it with just fifth place, given Man City’s possible ban.
"We were in decent form before the break, I just hope we can get back to that when we return and end up in a European spot."
