Arsenal: Mikel Arteta needs to demand respect says pundit
Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip
Friday, December 20
Several Premier League clubs are interested in signing Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior
Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham have expressed interested
The Gunners are set to unveil Mikel Arteta as their new manager today
Liverpool and Manchester United have both held talks with Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz
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Granit Xhaka bidder
Hertha Berlin are interested in signing Granit Xhaka.
That’s according to German newspaper Bild, who claim the Bundesliga side are prepared to pay £38million for the midfielder.
Xhaka, 28, is believed to want to leave the Emirates Stadium having being stripped of the captaincy after telling Arsenal fans to ‘f**k off’ as he was being substituted in their 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.
Hertha have received a financial injection from German businessman Lars Windhorst and want to recruit Xhaka to help push for European football.
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham gossip and updates (Image: GETTY)
That’s according to Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who refused to predict a return date for the Frenchman.
"He is not being sold in January," said the United boss.
"I hope he will play before the end of the year, but I am not going to push him. I can't risk any setbacks or injuries."
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham gossip and updates (Image: GETTY)
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer update
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has responded to reports that Erling Haaland is on his way to Old Trafford for transfer talks.
Reports suggested that Haaland is due to land in Manchester this morning with United having been strongly linked to the Norwegian star.
But the United boss denied that Haaland was on the way to talk to him on Friday.
“I don’t think he’s en route here, to be fair, not through me anyway,” Solskjaer said. “You know I can’t comment on other teams’ players, I’ve said that many times and that’s just one of those things in this job you get speculation a lot of the time.”
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham gossip and updates (Image: GETTY)
Erling Haaland arrival
Manchester United transfer target Erling Braut Haaland is on a plane to Manchester as the Red Devils look to tie up a January deal for the Red Bull Salzburg hitman.
Reports in his native Norway indicate the 19-year-old boarded a Norwegian Airlines flight at Sola, along with his father Alf-Inge, which is due to arrive in the UK at 10.15am (GMT).
Aftenbladet say Haaland left his homeland on Friday morning with Manchester Airport the flight’s destination.
United are looking to fend off rival bids from Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig to land the highly-rated striker, who’s also on Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid’s wanted lists
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham gossip and updates (Image: GETTY)
Several consider futures
Arsenal are expected to announce the appointment of Mikel Arteta as the club’s new manager today but the Spaniard could be forced into undertaking an overhaul of his squad in the January transfer window.
And one of his first tasks he is going to face is dealing with an unsettled Arsenal squad.
According to the Independent, striker Alexandre Lacazette and midfielder Granit Xhaka are among several first-team players who are considering their future at the club.
The report also claimed that several sources say the feeling is spreading among “half the squad”.
It is not believed to be a response to the appointment of Arteta as the club’s new manager, but more to do with the general lack of direction the club currently appears to have.
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham gossip and updates (Image: GETTY)
Paul Pogba future
Manchester United players and staff don’t think Paul Pogba will feature for the club again.
In fact, the Mirror claim players and staff are ‘convinced’ his days at Old Trafford are finished ahead of the January transfer window.
Pogba, 26, has only played six times this season after suffering an ankle injury in September.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hopeful Pogba will be available before the end of the year, but other prominent figures in the club believe he’s played his last game for United.
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham gossip and updates (Image: GETTY)
Several Premier League clubs are interested in signing Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior.
That’s according to Spanish publication Eldesmarque, who claim Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham have expressed interested.
Vinicius, 19, arrived at the Bernabeu from Flamengo in July 2018 for a reported £40million but has bagged just six goals in 45 appearances.
It’s said the Brazilian, who earns £40,000 per week, feels unsupported by manager Zinedine Zidane and is assessing his options elsewhere.
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham gossip and updates (Image: GETTY)
Mikel Arteta announcement
Arsenal are set to unveil Mikel Arteta as their new manager today.
The 37-year-old, who made 110 top-flight appearances for Arsenal before retiring in 2016, is poised to take up his first managerial role after three years as Pep Guardiola's assistant.
The Gunners postponed Thursday afternoon's scheduled press conference to agree a compensation package for the Manchester City assistant coach.
But it’s believed Arteta will face the media today ahead of Saturday’s clash with Everton at Goodison Park.
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham gossip and updates (Image: GETTY)
Liverpool and Manchester United have both held talks with Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz, according to reports in Germany.
Havertz’s exploits in the Bundesliga have helped establish himself as one of the hottest young properties across Europe, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid all thought to be keeping tabs on the 20-year-old.
And German newspaper Bild claim both Liverpool and United have held talks with Havertz and his agent about a prospective Premier League move.
It is thought the attacking midfielder could command a fee of around £111million.
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham gossip and updates (Image: GETTY)
Southampton transfer
Southampton will prioritise the signing of a full back in the January transfer window.
The Saints have conceded 36 goals in 17 league games - more than any other side - largely due to a 9-0 hammering at home by Leicester in October, and sit 18th in the table.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's clash with Aston Villa, Ralph Hasenhuettl stressed the need to bolster his back line with French right back Yan Valery ruled out until the New Year due to a viral infection.
"The window in the summer wasn't perfect. It's absolutely clear that we have to do something in the full back position because even now we have one out," Hasenhuettl said.
"We only have Ryan Bertrand and Cedric Soares in these two positions, so this is definitely a position we're looking for... We'll do something."