A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as Sol Campbell tells Mikel Arteta the striker the Gunners should sign in January over targeting a transfer for Brentford star Ivan Toney.
Arteta urges Arsenal to scout Tottenham target Andre
Scouts working for Arsenal have watched Fluminense midfielder Andre Trindade over recent weeks under orders from Arteta. That is according to talkSPORT, which reports that the boss has instructed their talent spotters to keep close tabs on the 22-year-old amid rival interest.
Andre is highly sought-after among some of the Premier League’s elite. Tottenham Hotspur have also now joined the race featuring Arsenal, plus Liverpool and Manchester United. The Red Devils are keen on Andre as they see him as a replacement for Casemiro at Old Trafford.
Arsenal et al are each interested in Andre’s transfer as Fluminense are preparing to sell their academy product in January. Reports by Football Transfers have also noted that the Tricolor value the Brazil talent at €30-40m (£26-35m), which may put Liverpool off a deal in January.
Read more about Arsenal and Tottenham’s interest in Andre’s transfer, here.
Fabregas reveals his regrets at leaving Arsenal for Barcelona
Gunners hero Cesc Fabregas has revealed he regrets sealing a transfer to Barcelona in 2011 and wishes he stayed with Arsenal for longer. The midfielder returned to Camp Nou in a deal worth up to £35m that August. He had left Catalunya to join the north London team in 2003.
Fabregas became Arsenal’s youngest player when he made his debut aged 16 years and 177 days in October 2003 against Rotherham United in the EFL Cup. He also went on to become their captain in late 2008. But the Spaniard only added one title to Arsenal’s trophy cabinet.
They won the FA Cup in 2005 when the 2010 World Cup winner emerged as a key player for Arsene Wenger. But Fabregas now admits he wishes he stayed at Arsenal for longer before agreeing to rejoin Barcelona. He left after scoring 57 and assisting 95 goals in 303 matches.
“I’m a very positive guy and I always like to look forward,” Fabregas noted, via quotes by Sky Sports. “I don’t like to look backwards too much.
“But maybe when I went to Barcelona from Arsenal. I think if I could go back now on time, I could wait a little bit more and I could have gone maybe a little bit later.”
Read more about what Fabregas has said about his transfer from Arsenal to Barcelona, here.
Campbell tells Arsenal to sign Osimhen over Toney
Invincibles icon Campbell has now told Arsenal to prioritise a transfer for Napoli star Victor Osimhen over Brentford striker Toney. Both attackers are potential targets for Arteta when the window re-opens. But Campbell believes the Nigerian would add more to their squad.
“In the end, they will have to decide by January, do they need a centre-forward?” Campbell has told the Mirror. “Twenty-to-25 goals in the Premier League? You know, in those big, tight games, I think it will help them.”
He continued: “[I would target] Osimhen. But is he going to cost too much money? There’s Ivan. I think they’re good [elsewhere on the pitch]. Center-forward is one thing they might need to look at and see the possibilities, see what’s out there, or wait until next season.
“But if the right person comes along, an out-and-out striker, that can unlock those tight games, knows what to do in those positions and also keeps defences occupied to then free up other people, they should maybe look at it Christmas time. If not, definitely next season.”
Reports by the Mirror claim Arsenal have marked Toney as their top target for the January transfer window. Arteta is keen on the currently-suspended striker as he wants an out-and-out centre-forward at Emirates Stadium. But Sky Sports now cites an asking price of £100m.
Arsenal would also face a sky-high price tag to poach Osimhen from Napoli. The Sun reports that Chelsea and the Gunners are considering a mid-season move. But his Serie A side want at least £150m, amid scoring six goals in eight Italian top-flight appearances so far this term.
Read more about what Campbell said about Arsenal’s interest in Osimhen and Toney, here.
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