Arsenal confident of signing Kieran Tierney after record Pepe deal

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02-08-2019

Kieran Tierney is a player that Arsenal have been chasing for a long time now. And the dream of signing the Celtic left back is going to become a reality soon as the club is close to bringing him to the Emirates, according to reports in Express.

The report states that the London club are expecting the £25m-rated star to join the club this summer. The Emirates club are also still in the market for a center back apart from a left back and the good news is that the Scot can play in both positions.

For a long time, the one factor holding up the deal was the way in which Arsenal were trying to structure the payment of the fee.

But recent reports have stated that the club have agreed to the demands of the Scottish Champions after submitting a revised offer that was more like what they wanted. When the deal is made official, Tierney will become the latest signing in a transfer window that has suddenly exploded into life.

Just over a week after the North London club confirmed the signings of Dani Ceballos and William Saliba, they shocked everyone by announcing the capture of Lille winger Nicolas Pepe in a club record that is said to cost them £72m.

Adding Tierney to this list of players would certainly make it one hell of a window that many fans would not have expected even in their wildest dreams. It bodes well for the future of the club that they have managed to get such quality players to the Emirates.

Tierney is one player that has been identified by manager Unai Emery as someone who can solve the defensive crisis that has been going on at the Emirates. His versatility is another factor that makes this transfer very exciting.

Bringing in Pepe was the first step in making the club move towards the Champions League and adding Tierney to the squad would go a long way in giving Emery the best possible squad he can ask for. The Scot is a fantastic modern full back who will fit seamlessly into the way Emery likes to play.

He will be an exciting presence on the left hand side of the Arsenal defense and could become one of the club’s most important players.

Announcement soon: Lille president explains delay in Pepe’s transfer move to Arsenal

By

Nithyanand

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01-08-2019

The president of French club Lille, Marc Ingla has reassured Arsenal fans around the world that the transfer for Nicolas Pepe is not in any danger.

The winger had agreed to come to the Emirates in a club record deal worth £72m. Ingla said that a few administrative details were missing and that is what was causing the delay in the announcement.

Speaking on the time taken to announce the transfer to RMC(via Metro), he said:

‘I think it should be [made official] in the next 24 hours.’

‘It is normal. There are administrative details.’

Fans are already excited about the prospect of seeing Pepe in an Arsenal shirt. And this was given some proof when the player was pictured wearing an Arsenal kit. It is only a matter of time before the deal will be made official but fans know that they can truly start celebrating only after the confirmation comes from the club.

The transfer of Pepe is an important one in terms of the future of the club going forward. He adds an excitement from the wings that has been missing ever since Alexis Sanchez left the club to join Manchester United. Now they are getting a player that has some similar qualities but crucially has the potential to become an even better player.

Apart from the quality of the winger, another factor that needs to be appreciated is the way in which the North London club have managed to structure this deal. They will only be paying a sum of £20m this summer(as per Metro) as they have a limited budget. It also gives them enough money to focus on other targets such as the Celtic left back Kieran Tierney.

Pepe will give the Gunners a real boost in their attempt to get back into the Champions League as he is a real quality addition to the side. He is an electrifying presence on the wings that will bring many dimensions to the Arsenal attack and help propel them, hopefully into the top four.

A lot of fans would not have expected the club to go out and make a statement signing as big as this but they will be glad that Pepe is coming to the Emirates soon.

2-year contract, £70k-a-week wages: Arsenal make contract offer to sign German midfielder

By

Nithyanand

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01-08-2019

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira after he was spotted at the Emirates during Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Lyon.

However according to La Gazetta dello Sport(via Mirror), if a transfer were to happen, it will require the German to take a pay cut from his current contract.

The North London club are ready to offer Khedira a 2-year contract with a £70,000-per-week package. This would be considerably less than the £100,000-per-week that he is earning in Turin.

Although Arsenal manager Unai Emery was quick to downplay any rumors linking the club with Khedira, the presence of the midfielder at the Gunners stadium has added to the speculation. And with Juventus having signed a plethora of players this summer, it seems likely that they will be looking to sell on a few.

The competition in the Juventus midfield is going to be intense especially as a result of them bringing in both Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot. Thus, it makes sense that Khedira would be looking elsewhere to get more first-team football.

But Arsenal themselves have quite a few central midfielders of their own especially after the arrival of Dani Ceballos from Real Madrid on a loan deal. There is no guarantee that Khedira would be the first choice if he was to make a move to the Gunners.

Given how active Arsenal have been in the transfer window in recent weeks, it is possible that they will indeed be targeting Khedira. He is a player that still has a lot to offer at the highest level and there is no doubting that he will be able to strengthen the squad.

It remains to be seen how the London club would be able to convince the German to join them but if they do, it will give their Champions League aspirations an extra push. Khedira would feel right at home at Arsenal given that he has two close friends from the German national team in Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil and he would be playing with the latter.

We still have more than a week left in the transfer window and there might be another surprise waiting in line for the Gunners fans.

Revised offer launched: Arsenal hopeful of finally signing Kieran Tierney

By

Nithyanand

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31-07-2019

Arsenal are on verge of signing Kieran Tierney after restructuring their £25m transfer offer, according to reports in Daily Mail.

The London club has already had two bids that were rejected by the Scottish champions even though they met the asking price of £25m.

But now, as per the Daily Mail, the 22-year-old has told Celtic that he wants to ply his trade in the Premier League and the Scottish champions are willing to let him leave if the Gunners pay more money upfront.

This key element was what the North London club were finding difficult but they realized that they had to do it if they were serious about getting Tierney. The Scot is one of the most highly-rated young left-backs in the game and Celtic’s valuation of him is proof of that.

Tierney wants to move to the Emirates as he wants to play for a club in the Premier League. Despite the reluctance of Celtic to sell their star defender and future captain, they will now have to agree to a deal and let him go.

He has been identified as the man that Arsenal manager Unai Emery wants for the left-hand side of his defense. Tierney has all the qualities that are needed to succeed for the Gunners. He is rapid on the pitch and his reading of the game is an underrated aspect of his playing style. He has great anticipation and that allows him to keep opposition wingers in check.

Arsenal’s transfer activity has gathered a lot of steam in the last week or so. They have already announced deals to bring Dani Ceballos and William Saliba to the Emirates. And apart from this, they are getting ready to announce the arrival of Nicolas Pepe from Lille in a club-record deal.

Adding Tierney to this would make it an excellent transfer window and one that many fans did not expect at all. There isn’t much time left until the end of the transfer window so it is good to see the Gunners get a move on and complete deals quickly.

Tierney will be an excellent addition to an already improving squad and it will be intriguing to see how well he does in a new league.

[Photo] Nicolas Pepe pictured in Arsenal kit as club get ready to announce record deal

By

Nithyanand

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31-07-2019

Arsenal have reportedly pulled off the signing of Nicolas Pepe from LOSC Lille in a deal worth £72m, according to reports in Daily Mail.

The report states that a leaked photo surfaced on Tuesday where Pepe was seen in the new Adidas home strip patting the badge and a cameraman capturing the visuals.

The winger had his medical in London on Tuesday evening and that has gotten fans excited that the deal could be announced very soon.

Nicolas Pepe in Arsenal jersey ! (From Reddit. Not sure if fake or real) pic.twitter.com/oWKkSI0jiw

— Osman 🎗 (@OsmanZtheGooner) July 30, 2019

Arsenal will feel very happy that they have been able to sign Pepe as there was a lot of competition surrounding him. The fact that the Gunners have been able to beat off their rivals such as Liverpool and Manchester United is significant. The London club did not have the liberty of being in the Champions League and many would have thought that this would have put them at a disadvantage.

But that wasn’t to be the case and now it looks like fans will see their dream of Pepe playing for Arsenal become a reality very soon. The move has progressed at such a rapid pace that it feels like a blur but the North London club are getting the kind of player that they need.

Not having a winger has really hampered the way that Arsenal, like to build their attacks and that, has cost them quite a few games. The presence of a player such as Pepe goes a long way in solving in that as he is incredibly skillful, very direct, and that always causes problems for the opposition defense.

He will form a great partnership with players such as Lacazette and Aubameyang and their combination is going to be key for the Gunners in the new season. The primary goal for Arsenal is to get back into the Champions League and for that to happen, you need to have players such as Pepe who can give you that extra push.

Arsenal and manager Unai Emery will have no excuses now if they are not able to produce a successful season. It promises to be an exciting time for Arsenal and the signing of Pepe will surely make everyone happy.

Arsenal open contract talks with Matteo Guendouzi after slashing wage bill

By

Nithyanand

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31-07-2019

Arsenal youngster Matteo Guendouzi is all set to be given a new and improved contract by the Gunners after his impressive debut season, according to reports in Soccer Link(via Sun).

The report states that Frenchman currently earns around £40,000 per week but that could be increased as the club has saved a lot of money in terms of wages.

This has been made possible by the departures of players such as Aaron Ramsey, Petr Cech and Danny Welbeck. It further states that the North London club have managed to save as much as £450,000 in wages per week due to seven players leaving.

This is a very significant amount that is going to have a huge impact on the way Arsenal conduct their business going forward. Guendouzi who was signed from French club Lorient in a deal worth just £7m is already starting to look like a bargain.

He went on to play 48 games in the 2018/19 including 33 games in the Premier League. This is proof of the faith that manager Unai Emery has in the midfielder and he is sure to play a vital role in the season going forward.

His presence in the first team will be improved by the departure of Aaron Ramsey who left for Juventus on a free transfer. Despite the arrival of Dani Ceballos on a loan deal, Guendouzi will be confident that he will get to play a lot of games.

Even though it was his first season in the Premier League, Guendouzi was able to show that he has the maturity that is needed to succeed at the highest level. The most impressive aspects of his game were the passing range that he showed and was not afraid to get stuck in the center of the pitch as well.

It is important from Arsenal’s perspective to secure the long-term future of a player such as Guendouzi as they are the ones who will be taking the club forward in years to come. The Gunners have had contract problems in the recent past with their star players and will be hoping to avoid the same kind of thing happening with the youngster.

The club is on a upward trend with the signings that they are making and having exciting young talents such as Guendouzi and that is good news for the fans.

Arsenal chiefs hold talks with French club Rennes over Laurent Koscielny transfer

By

Nithyanand

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31-07-2019

Arsenal have recently held talks with French club Rennes over a move for club captain Laurent Koscielny, according to reports in BBC(via Daily Star).

The center back appears to be on his way out of the club after he refused to travel with the squad on their pre-season tour of the USA.

The report in BBC claims that Arsenal’s newly appointed technical director Edu has spoken with Olivier Letang, the president of Rennes to thrash out a deal. It further states that the French defender has no intention of playing for the Gunners anymore.

This is good news for Koscielny after it became clear that he wanted to leave the club and go back to his home country. He is the longest-serving player at the Emirates right now but he feels that it is time for him to look for a new challenge.

Even Unai Emery hinted that the captain could leave the club. When asked about his captain for the season, he mentioned that new players were needed as a result of Petr Cech and Aaron Ramsey leaving and now ‘possibly’ Laurent Koscielny as well.

It would definitely be a loss for the club should Koscielny leave but if a player does not want to be at the club, then there is no point in keeping him. It seems that the club also understands this and has started preparing for life after the captain leaves.

They are interested in bringing in Italian defender Daniele Rugani on a loan deal to compensate for the departure of Koscielny. The Frenchman has to be lauded for coming back from a career-threatening injury suffered at the end of the 2017/18 season. He came back in impressive fashion that showed the extent of his fighting spirit.

If he has indeed played his last game for the Gunners, it would be a shame that his last match will be the 4-1 Europa League final defeat to Chelsea. Now the club will be looking at getting a fee for Koscielny instead of losing him on a free.

It will be good for the Gunners if they can sort out a deal as soon as possible. They will want to go into the new season with a fresh mind and if there are players that do not want be at the club, they will have to leave.

Medical done, announcement next: Pepe snapped at Arsenal training ground ahead of transfer

By

Nithyanand

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30-07-2019

Arsenal’s pursuit of Nicolas Pepe is now edging ever closer to a conclusion and now we have visual proof of the deal.

The Sun have managed to get their hands on some exclusive photos of the player as he was leaving London Colney, the North London club’s training complex.

The report states that the 24-year-old forward had gone there to complete a photoshoot for the club after completing the medical. He was also seen holding an Arsenal bag that presumably had a lot of merchandise given by the club.

This is exciting news for the club who have finally gotten their man when for the most part of the summer, it didn’t seem like the Emirates had a chance, given the competition that was going on around Pepe’s signature. Now that we have seen him, it is only natural to expect an announcement to come anytime soon.

Gianluca DiMarzio, the Italian publication have confirmed that the player has signed for Arsenal with an official announcement expected very soon. Arsenal beat out clubs such as Liverpool, Napoli and Manchester United to agree on a deal with Lille after the French club accepted a deal worth £72m.

Here are some pics:

https://twitter.com/GurjitAFC/status/1156185772464254977

What makes this deal even better for the Gunners is that they have managed to split the fee into several installments. This will ensure that they do not take a huge chunk of out of their summer budget and keep some money left for other signings to be made.

After weeks of looking like they weren’t going to do much in the transfer window, the club has shown that they mean business with the transfers of Pepe to go with the already confirmed deals for Dani Ceballos and William Saliba.

Bringing Pepe to the Emirates is a significant move for the Gunners and one that will go a long way in showing that they still belong at the elite level of European football. He is one of the best wingers in the footballing world and Gunners fans will be buzzing to see him in action at the Emirates.

The move is 99% done but there is a special satisfaction to be got when the club finally confirms it and let’s hope that it comes soon.

Journalist reveals Arsenal on verge of signing Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira

By

Nithyanand

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30-07-2019

Arsenal are looking at bringing Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira this summer, according to reports in Tancredi Palmeri via the Express.

This was given some credence as the German was in attendance at the Emirates during the Gunners 2-1 defeat to Lyon. And to add to that, Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri had tweeted about a move for the German midfielder.

He posted on his Twitter account saying:

‘Khedira close to join Arsenal.‘

Khedira close to join Arsenal

— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) July 29, 2019

Khedira did not have a good season in the 18/19 campaign due to injury concerns. And with Juventus having made some impressive midfield signings in the form of Adrien Rabiot and the recently departed Arsenal man Aaron Ramsey, they are open to selling the German.

But despite this tweet from the Italian journalist, Arsenal manager Unai Emery was quick to downplay any rumors that were linking Khedira with a move to the Emirates. Speaking after the Lyon game, he said(via Express):

‘Khedira is a very good player but this is the first time I have heard his name mentioned.’

Perhaps this was just a case of the manager not wanting to reveal too much in case a transfer was actually going to go through. Arsenal have been active in recent weeks as they have sealed the transfers of Dani Ceballos and William Saliba. Ceballos joined the Gunners from Real Madrid on a loan deal and he plays in the center of midfield.

This is where Khedira would play as well and given that the club already has some options there, it is hard to see him starting on a regular basis.

Nonetheless, it is not possible to disregard the potential move for the German midfielder. And if he was to join the London club, he will surely be welcomed by his close friend and former German and Real Madrid teammate Mesut Ozil.

The 32-year-old midfielder may not be a regular starter for his club but he still has a lot to offer. His experience and energy will benefit the squad should he choose to come and join the Gunners. Khedira would find it easy to settle in the Arsenal squad quickly so all that remains to be seen is whether the Emirates club are actually interested. It will be interesting to see how the final days of the transfer window shape up.

€6m-a-year contract, 5-year deal deal: Arsenal on the verge of signing €80m star

By

Nithyanand

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30-07-2019

Lille forward Nicolas Pepe is edging closer than ever before to a move to the Emirates, according to reports in Express.

The transfer deal that the North London club have agreed with the forward’s club LOSC Lille is said to be in the region of £72m and now we have some clarity on the exact details of the contract. Italian journalist Nico Schira also took to Twitter where he said:

‘Done deal! #Arsenal have closed for Nicolas #Pepe. #Gunners will pay him €80M to #Lille. Pepe will sign a contract until 2024 by €6M a year.’

Done deal! #Arsenal have closed for Nicolas #Pepe. #Gunners will pay him €80M to #Lille. Pepe will sign a contract until 2024 by €6M a year. #transfers #AFC

— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) July 29, 2019

Once the move is made official, Pepe will become the record transfer for the Gunners as they will be paying more than what they paid for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2018.

The Lille winger is currently on holiday and is expected to return soon. When he gets back, the move will be put on the fast track and it should all become official very soon. For the longest time, it seemed that the Gunners were going after Pepe’s Ivory Coast team mate Wilfried Zaha but that move proved to be too difficult to pull off.

And the Pepe transfer is certainly a coup for Arsenal as he has become one of the most wanted players in the world. This was proven by the fact that a host of clubs including Manchester United and Liverpool were after him. But it is the Gunners who were able to provide his entourage with a satisfactory offer and that clinched the deal in favor of the London club.

It also represents a smart move by the club as the fee for Pepe will only be paid in installments meaning that the budget of the Gunners will not be impacted too much. He is the kind of player that the club have needed for a long time so it is good that they have gone ahead with this transfer.

With Arsenal players hinting that a move is done for Pepe, the energy and excitement among fans is quite palpable. This is a great transfer by the Gunners and it should give their squad a real shot in the arm. Pepe is an exciting talent with a real eye for goal. Everyone related to Arsenal will be waiting to see him on the pitch very soon.