A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as Mikel Arteta rivals Manchester United for a transfer of a Premier League star and hatches a new plan to reshape the Gunners’ XI.
Arsenal rival Manchester United for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite
Jarrad Branthwaite is earning interest from Arsenal and Manchester United as Everton might have to sanction the defender’s transfer. The Blues are now reeling after the Premier League charged the Goodison Park club on Monday with breaching its profit and sustainability rules.
It is the second season in succession that the Toffees have now exceeded the £105m cap for losses over a three-season period. Their new charge relates to the period up to 2022/23 and may see an independent commission issue another penalty after docking them by 10 points.
Arsenal and Manchester United are sniffing around Goodison Park in anticipation of Everton having to sanction Branthwaite’s transfer to fall in line with the PSR limits. That is according to Alex Crook, who told talkSPORT (16/1, 12:36) that the defender is their most sellable star.
Crook also adds there is every chance that Everton will have to sell Branthwaite as he counts as a homegrown player. Newcastle United and Real Madrid are also among the centre-half’s suitors. While TEAMtalk has noted a £75m valuation amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur.
Read more about Arsenal’s interest in Branthwaite’s transfer from Everton, here.
Mikel Arteta targets Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri as part of a long-term refresh
Arsenal have failed with an initial approach to Wolves over the transfer of Rayan Ait-Nouri as Arteta targets new full-backs. That is according to Football Transfers, which reports Arteta wants to overhaul his wide defensive ranks to get four top-class inverted full-backs available.
Wolves have so far rebuffed Arsenal’s interest amid rival talks with Liverpool over selling Ait-Nouri. But the 22-year-old could yet leave Molineux in January if the Old Gold receive offers exceeding £50m. The Gunners’ initial approach failed to meet the Black Country side’s price.
Ait-Nouri is also currently competing at the Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria to further put a spanner in Arsenal and Liverpool’s interest. But Arteta is determined to see Arsenal target full-backs across the next two transfer windows as he bids to overhaul their current options.
Read more about Arteta’s latest transfer plan for Arsenal’s full-back areas, here.
Agents approach Arsenal over Manchester United target Michael Olise
Agents have approached Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City to alert the Premier League rivals to a release clause in Michael Olise’s contract at Crystal Palace. Reports by talkSPORT note that intermediaries are keen to inform teams that he can move for in excess of £50m.
Manchester United already are planning to target Olise’s transfer as Jim Ratcliffe has placed the 22-year-old atop his shortlist. The Red Devils are even prepared to offer Crystal Palace a chance to re-sign Aaron Wan-Bissaka in part exchange for Olise joining the Old Trafford side.
Crystal Palace agreed to insert the release clause in the France U21 winger’s contract when he signed fresh terms last August. Olise has since returned from a hamstring injury to score five and assist one goal in nine top-flight outings. But he is again out with a hamstring issue.
Read more about the release clause in Olise’s contract at Crystal Palace, here.
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