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Arsenal news: Man Utd transfer backed, £45m Welbeck replacement, official injury update
ARSENAL news - Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip coming out of the Emirates.
Man Utd deal eyed
Arsenal could move for Manchester United ace Juan Mata next year, talkSPORT host Adrian Durham claims.
The Spain international is out of contract next year and could leave Old Trafford on a free transfer.
Durham said: “I thought we were going to do a Juan Mata love-in right.
“I thought we were doing an appreciation hour for Juan Mata. After I said this, just a couple of minutes ago, just had a message going; ‘He’s going to Arsenal on a free’.
“We can’t do this anymore, if he’s going to Arsenal. We all love him now, but who is going to love him when he goes to Arsenal?
“He’s going to be going to Arsenal on a free! He was with [Unai] Emery on a free wasn’t he, so he’s going to Arsenal on a free because he is out of contract in the summer.
“This is breaking news, Juan Mata is going to Arsenal. This is what I have heard, it is not official. My sources close to the club have said he is going to Arsenal on a free.
“By the way, when it happens, you can all ring up and say ‘We doubted you but, as ever, you were right.'”
Arsenal: Welbeck should get contract after injury says Groves
Danny Welbeck replacement
Arsenal are set to step up their interest in Lille winger Nicolas Pepe following Danny Welbeck’s horror injury.
The Sun claim Unai Emery has now been forced to rethink his January transfer plans, with Welbeck out for the remainder of the season.
They reckon Emery could now make a £45m bid for Lille’s Pepe in January.
Pepe has netted eight goals and chipped in with seven assists in Ligue 1 this season.
Injury updates
Arsenal are still without Laurent Koscielny following his injury from last season and have been handed a new blow with the Danny Welbeck horror injury on Thursday night.
Welbeck remains in hospital and the club say the Gunners provide another update within 72 hours.
However they have kept fans up to date with the issues for another five players.
These include Stephan Lichtsteiner, who also limped off against Sporting, Monreal, Koscielny, Mohamed Elneny and Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Arsenal could have Lichtsteiner and Monreal back for Sunday’s game against Wolves.