Gossip: Arsenal target Valencia star, City eye Everton defender
ARSENAL TO GO FOR GOMEZ
Mikel Arteta has apparently done the maths and the Arsenal manager reckons Valencia forward Maxi Gomez is an affordable target, despite his £125million release clause.
That is because Valencia are in a financial mess. Their president, Anil Murthy, admits more sales will follow their summer fire sale. “Two more difficult years await us and there will be additional sales,” he told AS.
That has led The Mirror to link Gomez with Arsenal. The 24-year-old has scored four goals in 12 appearances this season and the Gunners believe there is a bargain to be had, despite the huge buy-out in Gomez’s contract which still has three and a half years left to run.
EVERTON WARY OF CITY INTEREST IN DIGNE
Lucas Digne has a deal with Everton until 2023 but the Toffees are already planning to offer the left-back new terms to fend off interest from Manchester City.
That is the claim of the The Times, which reports Pep Guardiola has identified Digne as one of the primary targets to fill what has been a problem position for City.
Guardiola’s interest has been enough to prompt Everton into renewal talks in the hope that a pay-rise will persuade the 27-year-old to ignore City and remain at Goodison long-term.
READ MORE: F365’s top ten Premier League managers of 2020
CITY AND UNITED ASK ABOUT ALABA
David Alaba has also been heavily linked with City in recent windows and the Bayern Munich defender is counting down the days until next month when he will be free to talk to clubs about signing as a free agent.
City’s interest in Alaba seemed to ease in recent weeks, with Chelsea the only Premier League side said to have made the four-team shortlist of potential destinations.
But AS says both City and Manchester United have been in touch with Alaba’s agent, Pini Zahavi, to register their interest in the defender, who will turn 29 as his Bayern deal expires in the summer.
PSG EYE ATLETICO KEEPER
PSG are one of the clubs said to be in the hunt for Alaba and the French giants are also looking to strengthen their goalkeeping options.
The Daily Mail says Jan Oblak is their leading target, with the Atletico Madrid stopper said to fancy a new challenge.
Oblak was linked with Chelsea but Atletico refused to budge on Oblak’s release clause so they signed Edouard Mendy for around a quarter of the price.