A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as Anton Ferdinand urges Mikel Arteta to bench his star player and the Gunners land a boost for Victor Osimhen’s transfer from Napoli.
Benzema slams ‘completely false’ transfer claims as Arsenal eye a loan
Al-Ittihad captain Karim Benzema has slammed the ‘completely false’ reports that the striker has asked to leave on loan, amid Arsenal targeting his transfer. The Gunners are on alert to a potential deal for the 36-year-old this month with Arteta eager to add to their attacking line.
Arsenal cannot afford to sign their top targets without the sale of some big-name players to prevent FFP problems. So, the Evening Standard has reported that the Gunners are keeping tabs on Benzema. It also noted that the France hero believes a switch to England is possible.
Additionally, Marca has reported that Benzema has asked Al-Ittihad to sanction a loan move with Arsenal, Manchester United and Lyon interested in his transfer. The Standard also cited interest from Chelsea. But Benzema has refuted suggestions that he has asked to leave now.
“It’s completely false!” Benzema vented, via L’Equipe. “The French media don’t know what to invent any more. The bigger, the better.”
Read more about what Arsenal target Benzema has had to say about a transfer, here.
Arsenal are ‘ticking all the boxes’ for Osimhen’s transfer from Napoli
Arsenal are the club ‘ticking all the boxes’ to secure a transfer for Napoli striker Osimhen this summer. That is according to Tancredi Palmeri, who claims that the 25-year-old has decided to leave the Azzurri after this season. His dream will also be to switch to the Premier League.
Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are also in the race to sign the Nigeria forward. Each squad has a vacancy to fill in their attack and have cash to spend. But Arsenal are likely to lead the Premier League assault for Osimhen’s transfer as they chase a real No9.
Arteta will have a greater budget to spend on a striker in the summer during a new FFP year. Napoli are keen to secure the full value of Osimhen’s €130m (£111m) release clause after he agreed to a new contract in December. But the Azzurri may accept €110m (£94m) at a push.
Read more about what Palmeri has said about Arsenal and Osimhen’s transfer, here.
Ferdinand feels Arteta should bench Saka as he needs a ‘reality check’
Ferdinand has urged Arteta to bench Bukayo Saka and to give the Arsenal academy product a ‘reality check’. The ex-West Ham United defender believes the forward should come out of the Gunners’ XI as he is not playing well enough right now to get a guaranteed starting spot.
Saka has started all 20 of his Premier League appearances so far this season, having missed a game due to a hamstring injury. The 22-year-old is also Arsenal’s best scorer with six goals and lead playmaker with seven assists. Eddie Nketiah is second for goals (5) and assists (4).
But Ferdinand feels Saka has not operated at the Arsenal winger’s accustomed standards in recent weeks. The 32-cap England forward scored to put the Gunners ahead in their 2-1 loss at Fulham on New Year’s Eve. But it is his only goal in the dynamo’s past seven appearances.
“In terms of Saka, sometimes as footballers and I’ve been there, sometimes you need a kick up the bum,” Ferdinand said on FIVE. “But whether you have one or not, he’s in a rut right now. Sometimes it might be, ‘Come out because you’re not good enough right now’.
“It gives him a reality check, I need to up my game again because he’s still young by the way. He’s young – so, young players need that. As long as it’s done to them in the right way, and they’re dealt with properly after it, they need that. I think Saka is in need of that right now.”
Read more about what Ferdinand has had to say about Arsenal forward Saka, here.
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