Defender’s wages could halt Emirates exit
AC Milan could come in for Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Sky in Italy say the Serie A giants are preparing for the possible departure of Theo Hernandez to Atletico Madrid.
Zinchenko appears way down the Gunners’ pecking order – especially given the brilliant breakthrough season of Myles Lewis-Skelly.
But it’s reckoned the wages of ex-Manchester City ace Zinchenko could be an issue for Milan.
Viktor breaks silence
Viktor Gyokeres has broken his silence on his transfer fall-out with Sporting Lisbon chiefs with a brief 22-word statement, writes KATHERINE WALSH.
The Man Utd and Arsenal target striker is reportedly at loggerheads with Sporting bosses after trying to force through a dream move to the Premier League.
The Swede, 27, is allegedly furious with Sporting for going back on their word over a promise to lower his £84million release clause and plans not to play for the club again.
He believes he had a gentleman’s agreement to leave the Portuguese giants for £50million with a further £8million in add-ons, but that claim has been denied by president Frederico Varandas.
The former Coventry man then reportedly threatened to go on strike while vowing not to play for the club again if they don’t lower their offer.
But Varandas insisted he will not be bullied into letting the Arsenal and Manchester United target move to the Prem on the cheap this summer. He said: “Sporting will not accept blackmail and insults – you should know me better by now.”
But Gyokeres has now tried to play down the squabble by writing on his Instagram story on Thursday evening: “There is a lot of talks at the moment, most of it is false. I will speak when the time is right.”
It also comes after reports claimed that Arsenal submitted a new bid for Gyokeres on Wednesday, with his agent Hasan Cetinkaya visiting London to fast-track the transfer.
Arsenal in growing Prem queue for Catamo
A Vikor Gyokeres team-mates has sneaked onto the radar of major Prem clubs.
Sporting Lisbon are already fighting to keep Gyokeres away from Arsenal and Manchester United.
Now it’s claimed Mozambique wing-back Geny Catamo also has plenty of serious admirers.
Caught Offside claim the versatile wideman has attracted interest from Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Fulham.
Sporting’s main shield to a Catano exit is a release clause of 60million euros – around £51m.
But it’s suggest Prem teams might open with an offer of approximately half that.
Chelsea ‘refuse to meet Ekitike valuation’
Huge Ekitike has leapt to the front of striking speculation in the Prem tonight.
And it’s claimed Chelsea as well as Liverpool have already put in bids for the Manchester United target.
But Eintracht Frankfurt are said to have rebuffed the Blues’ offer for the 22-year-old.
Chelsea did, however, beat United to the signature of Ipswich’s Liam Delap.
And France U-21 star Ekitike might reckon Old Trafford is his best chance of rapid development in the Prem.
De Bruybe completes Napoli move
Kevin De Bruyne is officially a Napoli player.
The Manchester City playmaking legend passed a medical with the Serie A champs this evening
Sky in Italy say the Belgian has agreed a two-year deal, with Napoli having the option of another 12 months.
Spurs name Frank as boss
Tottenham have confirmed Thomas Frank as their new manager.
The Dane, 51, has left Brentford to replace axed Ange Postecoglou.
Frank, who had a £10m release clause, agreed to the move after a compensation package was sorted between the two clubs.
Much of the delay in the appointment was around the Bees’ highly-rated head of coaching Cochrane.
Cochrane, who is also one of Thomas Tuchel’s staff with England, was in the mix to replace Frank as manager of the West London side.
But the new boss wanted the former Tottenham academy coach to be part of his new setup and he has gone back to N17 as Frank’s No2.
Brentford fitness coach Chris Haslam and analyst Joe Newton are also moving across the capital.
