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Football London
Football London
Sport
Tom Bage

Latest Arsenal transfer rumours: Striker considers move, Umtiti losing patience at Barca & more

Arsenal only have seven league games remaining this season and as such attentions are beginning to turn to what might happen in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Even with Arsenal in the midst of a fierce battle for a Champions League spot next season and the losing stages of the Europa League on the horizon the Gunners are consistently being linked with stars around Europe.

Today was no exception with developing stories around a number of supposed summer targets.

The best of todays rumours are below.

Every word Arsenal boss Unai Emery just said on Mesut Ozil, injury news and Everton trip

Samuel Umtiti

The Barcelona man has long been linked with a move to the Emirates and today saw more developments in Arsenal's apparent interest in bringing him to north London.

According to  Sport , the France international does not want to leave the club but appears to be coming round to the possible necessity of a move if his situation in the Catalan capital doesn't change.

Arsenal reportedly have their sights firmly set on Barcelona' Samuel Umtiti. ((Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images))

They report that the defender has told his teammates he will not be a happy presence in the dressing room if he continues to be stuck with the bit-part role that he has recently had at the Camp Nou.

As a result he has apparently claimed to those teammates that his desire to leave may increase if he continues to be sidelined by Ernesto Valverde.

Umtiti could proveide Unai Emery with a vital presence at centre-back but as football.london correspondent James Benge has pointed out Arsenal may struggle to keep up if teams become involved in a bidding war for him this summer.

Arsenal boss Unai Emery provides worrying fitness update on Granit Xhaka and Laurent Koscielny 

Wesley Moraes

Club Brugge forward Moraes is not a regular feature in this column, unlike Umtiti, but he has been linked with a move to Arsenal in the near future and has a rage of other admirers in the Premier League.

He spoke to Het Belang van Limburg (via  Sport Witness ) about interest from the Premier League and China this week, he said: "I have read all those names.

Wesley Moraes celebrates scoring against Monaco in the Champions League (VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images)

"It is of course completely different going to China than to another European country. I don’t know what I want, I don’t want to exclude anything.

"I do know that I once said that I want to go to England and that is still the case. I have always closely followed the Premier League. But I am certainly also open to other leagues."

The 22-year-old striker has socred 14 times and provided nine assists this season in the Jupiler League and the Champions League. His contract expires in 2023.

What Unai Emery has done to improve Sead Kolasinac's game for Arsenal this season 

Takuma Asano

Arsenal's Japanese striker has yet to feature for the club since his signing in 2016 but has done reasonably ok in the Bundesliga on loan in that time.

This season has seen him play 15 times for his current loan club Hannover 96 as they battle to avoid relegation to Bundesliga 2 but will not play another game this season and the reasons behind that have apparently angered Arsenal.

The Mirror report that Arsenal were expecting him to get more first team action while on loan at the struggling side but due to Hannover's reaction a clause in the loan deal will not get to see him play again.

German outlet  kicker  report that the decision to stop playing Asano comes from a desire to avoid an obligation in the loan deal to buy Asano from Arsenal for €3.5 million if he plays another game.

Club comes to decision over Arsenal loanee - and the Gunners will not be impressed 

They report that the club hierarchy have told manager Thomas Doll that Asano is not to be played.

When asked about Asano Doll said: "I am responsible for the preparation and the squad composition, but that’s all I’m saying."

The sale of Asano could have offered Emery a welcome boost in the transfer funds for this summer.

Ismael Bennacer

Ismael Bennacer in action during the Serie A match between Empoli and Inter Milan (Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

 

On the topic of welcome boosts to Emery's funds, former Arsenal youngster Bennacer could provide a surprise source of funds to the club .

The 21-year-old has been on song in Serie A this season for Empoli and has attracted the attention of the bigger Italian clubs such as Roma and Napoli.

There was talk of an £8.8million fee in January and due to a clause in the contract when Arsenal sent Bennacer to Empoli the club would receive 30% of any transfer fee.

While this would only bring just under £3 million to the Emirates coffers any extra money is likely to be welcomed at a club that is only expected to have a budget of £40m to spend - unless Champions League qualification is secured.

Matteo Guendouzi reveals two things he wants to achieve at Arsenal and makes exciting prediction 

If he continues his good form there is nothing to say that Empoli couldn't demand more for him, in turn giving more of a boost to Arsenal.

Fabrizio Corsi, Empoli's president, spoke about the youngster's future, he said (via CalcioNapoli1926 ): "We say that there is an interest on the part of Napoli and we are happy that an important team is interested in him.

"I think he can play in Naples, in Rome, and Inter. He has great dynamism, great feet, and a great personality."

Unai Emery names Arsenal's two most improved players this season 

Keep up to date with the latest news, features and exclusives from football.london  via the free  football.london app  for  iPhone  and  Android .

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