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Football London
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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

How Liverpool could help Arsenal seal £45m Thomas Partey transfer as Orkun Kokcu makes decision

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

Liverpool windfall could help Arsenal seal Partey transfer

Liverpool's Premier League title win is reportedly good news for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta.

The Mail claim that the Merseyside giants are set to pay millions to their domestic rivals in bonus transfer payments as a result of being crowned champions of England for the first time in 30 years.

In addition, report states that Southampton are set to be the biggest profiteers, as they are due a significant seven-figure sum, as high as £3million.

But the Gunners are due a windfall because in the summer of 2017, midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain swapped the Emirates Stadium for Anfield and will soon be rewarded with his first-ever Premier League winner's medal.

It remains to be seen just how much the north London outfit will receive, but the windfall could come in handy in regards to Arteta's transfer plans.

Talk of a £45m move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey refuses to go away, so could a payment from the news Premier League champions help finance a transfer?

Kokcu signs new Feyenoord deal

If Partey does end up making a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer, he is unlikely to be playing alongside Orkun Kokcu.

The 19-year-old, who is considered as one of the most promising talents emerging in European football, has been heavily linked with a switch to north London over the last few months.

football.london revealed back in March that Kokcu was on Arsenal's radar ahead of the summer transfer window and a £23m deal was being mooted.

However, the midfielder has opted to stay put by signing a new five-year deal with Feyenoord.

"Feyenoord has reached an agreement in principle with Orkun Kökcü about a longer stay in De Kuip,” a statement on the Feyenoord website read.

"The talented midfielder will soon sign a new contract, which will bind him to the club until July 1, 2025. Kökcü's current commitment ran until 2023."

Wonderkids train ahead of FA Cup tie

Arteta has a near full-strength squad to pick from for this afternoon's FA Cup quarter-final tie against Sheffield United.

Four players set to miss the game because of injury are Bernd Leno, Pablo Mari, Calum Chambers and Gabriel Martinelli.

The game is likely to come too soon for Lucas Torreira to make his return - although the Uruguayan was spotted in Saturday's training session at London Colney alongside some of the club's most promising youngsters.

Harry Clarke, Zak Swanson, Trae Coyle and Matt Smith during the Arsenal 1st team training session at London Colney (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

As seen in the images above, Harry Clarke, Zech Medley, Zak Swanson, Trae Coyle and Matt Smith were among those called up.

The latter actually made the matchday squad for the 2-0 win over Southampton on Thursday evening and looks to be on the cusp of a first-team breakthrough.

Will he travel with the squad to Bramall Lane?

The Holding decision Arteta must make

Mikel Arteta should build his Arsenal defence around Rob Holding.

That's the view of Gunners legend Ray Parlour who was impressed with the centre-backs commanding performance against the Saints.

"Certainly I’d put him in the pecking order ahead of [Luiz and Mustafi]," Parlour told football.london. "He’s a better defender than both of those players.

Rob Holding has excelled since returning to the Arsenal starting XI post-lockdown (Photo by ANDREW MATTHEWS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

"There’s definitely a proper talent there, I’ve said that all along. Before he got injured he was one of our best defenders.

"He had that injury and was out for a long period and that has been his problem, injuries at bad times.

"But now he has an opportunity. Sometimes it comes around again. I’m sure Mikel Arteta was impressed with him and his performance yesterday. He’s a young lad, he’s learning all the time. Hopefully he can get a regular spot now."

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