Arsenal will be gearing up for a key summer as the transfer window opens for Premier League clubs on Friday.
The Gunners finished just two points behind champions Manchester City in the top flight last term as they missed out on a first league title since 2004. But Mikel Arteta’s side will take heart from the fact that they pushed Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking side to the final day.
Nevertheless, Arsenal’s squad will need strengthening with matters complicated due to Euro 2024 kicking off today, meaning several targets are likley to be focused on international duty in Germany. Below are some of the latest media reports and views from in and around the Gunners…
Mbappe’s Saliba praise
New Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has heaped praise on Arsenal centre-back William Saliba. The pair will be hoping to help France win their first European Championship since 2000 with Les Bleus among the favourites for glory at Euro 2024.
“I have known him since he was very, very young,” Mbappe told Ouest France. “We were in the same primary school in Bondy. We played football together on our breaks, even though we weren’t in the same year, but he asked to play with us.
“We allowed it because he was already big! Then my dad trained him at AS Bondy. I am three years older than him so I saw him grow up by following his journey and his games closely. Seeing him in the national team, going from Bondy to Les Bleus, made me really happy. I tried to integrate him into the group as quickly as possible.
“This season, he has become a very important player for Arsenal and is among the best centre-backs in the Premier League. He is starting to get minutes with us. It’s now up to him to find his place. For me, he has all the qualities to, in time, be a starter with Les Bleus.”
Joshua Zirkzee latest
Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas has claimed that the Gunners and Man United are closely monitoring Joshua Zirkzee’s situation as talks with Milan drag on.
“Manchester United and Arsenal are currently very interested in Zirkzee as AC Milan push to try and sign him from Serie A rivals Bologna,” he said on Sky Sports.
“Milan are confident of getting a deal done but almost a week has gone by since talks intensified and it is not there yet, which has seen United and Arsenal monitor things more closely this week. Bologna, meanwhile, really want him to stay for another year and are even willing to increase his wages.
“He is a really attractive prospect on the market, because of his dynamic profile and relatively young age, with plenty of room for improvement, especially for a relatively modest fee. Juventus also like him a lot but need to sell a striker before they can go after another one.”
