1pm Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Bournemouth build-up, Gunners want Rugani, Aubameyang replacement, Koulibaly targeted – The Sun
MIKEL ARTETA's Arsenal head to Bournemouth on Boxing Day as the Spaniard looks to begin his Arsenal reign with a victory.
Everton frustrated the Gunners in a 0-0 draw at the weekend, but this game on the South Coast will be the first time that Arteta takes to the dugout.
Follow all the latest transfer gossip and updates from the Emirates below…
A NEW era begins today for Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta takes charge for the first time and his eagerly-awaited team sheet is not far away.
Arsenal have won just one of their last three visits to Bournemouth but the Cherries have tasted defeat in three-straight home games.
Something has to give at the Vitality.
ARSENAL are considering a loan recall for Eddie Nketiah after struggling for match time at Leeds United.
The young Englishman has scored five goals in all competitions for the Whites, but has failed to be handed a Championship start by Marcelo Bielsa this season.
The Gunners rate the 20-year-old highly, but are unhappy at his limited number of minutes.
And the Athletic report that Nketiah is expected to return to the Emirates Stadium, with Leeds also set to lose Jack Clarke as well.
LEICESTER have joined Arsenal in the race for £34million rated defender Daniele Rugani at Juventus.
Despite the impressive form of Jonny Evans and Caglar Soyuncu, Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers is keen on adding some more strength in depth.
Veteran Wes Morgan is the only cover for the two regulars.
And with Rugani well down the pecking order at Juventus, according to The Telegraph, the Italian giants are “bracing themselves” for a January bid.
GRANIT XHAKA is looking ever closer to leaving Arsenal after a disappointing season so far.
The Swiss international has lost his captaincy, suffered abuse from his own fans and spent a spell frozen out of the senior team.
Yet, he could have been a double Premier League champion by now, if Mikel Arteta had his way.
The Independent report that the new Arsenal boss tried to persuade Pep Guardiola to sign Xhaka for Manchester City prior to the 27-year-old's move to the Gunners.
Arteta has said in the build-up to his first match in charge: “As a player, when I was going from Arsenal to City to start coaching and we were looking in that position, he was one of the players on my list.
“This is how much I liked him. I was happy when Arsenal signed him because I thought he was going to be a terrific player.
“He has done some really good things and now he has got stuck in a very difficult situation that, I think, was growing and growing and growing and one day it exploded.
“But I have been amazed as well by how this relationship is starting to come back a little bit and I think the fans have been very very positive about him, and him as well.
“Obviously it is difficult to change completely the scenario from where he was a magnificent one. But I think we are in the right direction with him.”
ARSENAL could go back in for Adrien Rabiot when the transfer window reopens.
The Gunners have previously been interested in the controversial Frenchman, before he joined Juventus on a free transfer in the summer.
Rabiot – who endured a fractious ending to his Paris Saint-Germain career – is wanted on loan by Arsenal, having only started five matches this season, according to The Times.
But the Italian giants want to hold on the 24-year-old midfielder and instead, are keen to offload Emre Can, formerly of Liverpool.
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