ARSENAL have reportedly rejected a £25m offer from Aston Villa for Emile Smith Rowe.
Meanwhile, SunSport can exclusively reveal Arsenal are interested in signing Aaron Ramsdale this summer.
While reports suggest James Maddison is a shock target now Martin Odegaard appears destined to remain at Real Madrid.
Follow all the latest from North London with our live blog below…
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- William Pugh
IT'S ODE
Martin Odegaard will not join Arsenal on a permanent transfer this summer, according to reports.
The Gunners are intent on bringing in a new playmaker for the centre of midfield but a deal for the Norwegian looks far off.
Alternative targets are being ‘aggressively’ pursued after Odegaard made clear that he sees his future with Real Madrid, as reported by The Athletic.
New Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti is set to hold talks with the Norwegian to determine his role in the team.
The 22-year-old was signed during the Italian’s first spell at the club and has spent time on loan at Heerenveen, Vitesse, Real Sociedad and Arsenal.
A strong second half of the season at Emirates Stadium saw Odegaard play 20 times for the Gunners. And he believes he has done enough to earn a fresh shot with Real, where he has two years remaining on his contract.
Credit: Getty - William Pugh
MELON ME 'EAD SON
England's ootie stars have been twisting their melons to sink Scotland tomorrow — by working out with fruit-patterned underwater balls.
Players love kickabouts with “watermelon balls” at their training base. The soft, coloured globes can be kicked or thrown up to 10ft under water.
The team — managed by Gareth Southgate — had a splashing time at St George’s Park yesterday as the final countdown began to the Battle of Britain Euro 2020 showdown at Wembley.
Coaching staff at the camp in Burton-on-Trent, Staffs, introduced the bizarre balls in place of the unicorn pool inflatables which players loved at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
They allow the stars to enjoy fun games with minimal impact on tired joints and muscles. Tyrone Mings, 28, Phil Foden, 21, Kyle Walker, 31, and Jordan Pickford, 27, were snapped with their new toys.
Credit: Getty - William Pugh
FOR FIX SAKE
Arsenal will open next season away at Premier League new boys Brentford before two tough fixtures against Chelsea (h) and Manchester City (a).
The Gunners Prem run in sees them face Leeds (h), Newcastle (a) and Everton (h).
- Marc Mayo
GOOD MORNING GUNNERS
Arsenal are believed to have stepped up their interest in Brighton's Ben White, with reports suggesting they've had a £40million offer rejected for the England defender.
But the Gunners aren't giving up their pursuit just yet and are expected to bid again shortly.
Yesterday was a busy day at the Emirates as the club reportedly turned down a £25m bid for Emile Smith Rowe from Aston Villa.
It's understood the youngster will stay at the club and sign a new five-year deal.
Rumours suggest Arsenal are considering a move for Leicester star James Maddison as a replacement for Martin Odegaard.
It is believed the Norway international will stay at Real Madrid beyond the summer.
And the Gunners have been linked with Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who's just replaced Dean Henderson in the England squad.
Finally, the Granit Xhaka transfer saga appears to have taken another twist, with reports claiming it will take £35m for Roma to prise him away from North London.
- Thomas Blow
IVAN TONEY LATEST
Ivan Toney will have a ‘very difficult choice to make’ if Arsenal make a move for the Brentford striker this summer.
Former Bees hero Sam Sodje told All Nigeria Soccer: “There’s a time I was in that position where you play for Brentford and big clubs come for you.
“Brentford have gone up, Toney had a great season so this might be the opportunity to play for a top of the Premier League club.
“But at the same time you want him to play games in the Premier League so he has to go to a club or stay at Brentford where he’ll get games in the Premier League.
“When it comes to individual goals, it’s not every day you get the opportunity to play for Arsenal, Manchester United or the big clubs, so it is a very difficult choice to make.
“There are two things, either you stay at Brentford, play every game or take the opportunity to play for a big club.”
- Thomas Blow
XHAKA AT THE EUROS: ITALY 3-0 SWITZERLAND
Italy enjoyed a comfortable victory over Granit Xhaka's Switzerland at the Stadio Olimpico, which sealed qualification for Euro 2020’s Round of 16.
The Azzurri thought they opened the scoring when captain Giorgio Chiellini picked a corner-kick from Lorenzo Insigne in the air and fired it behind Yann Sommer’s goal after the ball bounced back to his feet.
However, VAR found that Chiellini’s arm hit the ball before he scored and things got worse for the Juventus star as he hobbled off the pitch with a muscle injury soon after.
However, Manuel Locatelli made it happen on 26 minutes when he found Domenico Berardi down the right flank with a wonderful ball from midfield.
Berardi delivered a wonderful low cross to the penalty area where Locatelli was after running the whole distance from midfield and beat Sommer with a wonderful finish.
The Sassuolo star completed a brace after 52 minutes and became Italy’s third youngest player to score two goals in a single game of a major tournament.
Ciro Immobile sealed his country’s big win with a long-range shot that Sommer couldn’t hold on to in the 89th minute
- Thomas Blow
LOKONGA LATEST
Arsenal have had an opening bid of £12million rejected for Anderlecht ace Albert Sambi Lokonga.
That is according to HLN, who claim the Gunners have seen their opening bid turned down by the Belgian outfit.
Midfielder Lokonga is one of Anderlecht’s standout performers despite being just 21.
And with both Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi set to leave this summer, manager Mikel Arteta is looking for someone to partner up with Thomas Partey in midfield.
- Thomas Blow
EUR THE BEST
England stars Harry Kane and Jadon Sancho both make the most valuable Euro 2020 XI – but NO Arsenal players make the cut.
Sancho – a summer transfer target for Manchester United – is currently worth a sensational £86million.
Dortmund are looking to recoup that to the final penny, with United’s first bid of the year £11m short, at £75m.
But his £86m tag is enough for Sancho to make it into the Euro 2020 most valuable team worth €1.04BILLION (£890m) at right midfield.
On the opposite wing, France star Kylian Mbappe is the priciest star, valued at £137m.
The rest of the midfield is made up of Belgium star Kevin de Bruyne (£86m), Germany ace Joshua Kimmich and Holland’s Frenkie de Jong (both £77m).
- Thomas Blow
THROWBACK ALERT
Who remembers this classic interview with Arsene Wenger?
In the video, the ex-Arsenal boss struggles to keep the club's move for Mesut Ozil a secret.
And what a signing the World Cup winner turned out to be, playing more than 250 games for the Gunners to become a cult hero.
- Thomas Blow
BEN WHITE LATEST
Brighton have reportedly rejected a £40million bid from Arsenal for defender Ben White.
Sky Sports claims the Gunners launched their ambitious offer on Wednesday for Graham Potter’s England star.
But Brighton rejected the offer after reportedly slapping White with a £50m price-tag following his Euros call-up.
However, it’s added that Arsenal remain undeterred and are expected to return with an improved offer.
- Thomas Blow
XHAKA STARTS AGAINST ITALY
Granit Xhaka captains Switzerland this evening in their Euro 2020 match against Italy.
And the Arsenal midfielder has a fresh blonde trim!
The Swiss are under pressure after Wales defeated Turkey in the other Group A game earlier today.
- Thomas Blow
JAMES MADDISON LATEST
Arsenal are reportedly eyeing up a shock move for Leicester playmaker James Maddison as a replacement for Martin Odegaard.
Mikel Arteta had been keen to permanently sign the Norway international, but it is understood he will be remaining at Real Madrid.
And the Gunners then lost out to Aston Villa in the race to prise Emiliano Buedia away from Norwich.
But according to reputable news source The AFC Bell, the North London giants have England midfielder Maddison in their sights.
They state that the 24-year-old has emerged as a key target and a move to the Emirates cannot be ruled out this transfer window.
And Football.London journalist Chris Wheatley has confirmed that the ex-Canaries ace is indeed being monitored by Arsenal.
He even suggested that Chelsea could join the race to sign him should Hakim Ziyech depart Stamford Bridge after just one year.
- Thomas Blow
AARON RAMSDALE LATEST
Aaron Ramsdale is a shock target for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
The Sheffield United keeper, 23, was yesterday called up into the England 2020 squad as a replacement for injured Dean Henderson.
And Ramsdale is a surprise name on Arsenal’s summer wanted list.
However, the recently-relegated Blades want around £20million for their star stopper.
Emirates boss Arteta has a major goalkeeper issue with the future of Bernd Leno unclear as he could be returning to Germany.
Brighton’s Mat Ryan spent the second half of last season on loan in North London but looks unlikely to return to Arsenal.
- Thomas Blow
ARSENAL WANT £35M FOR XHAKA – REPORTS
Arsenal are reportedly holding out for £35million for Granit Xhaka.
It's around the same amount they paid for the player five years ago.
Will Roma meet the asking price?
- Thomas Blow
GUENDOUZI EXIT 'PROGRESSING'
Matteo Guendouzi is getting close to leaving Arsenal, according to Fabrizio Romano.
It's believed the midfielder will join Ligue 1 side Marseille.
The 22-year-old spent last term on loan at Bundesliga team Hertha Berlin.
- Thomas Blow
ARSENAL CLOSE IN ON PARRIS
Arsenal are set to sign England forward Nikita Parris from Lyon, according to Sky Sports.
The 27-year-old, who has 50 international caps, has previously played for Everton and Manchester City.
Parris' trophy cabinet includes the French league, WSL and Champions League.
- Thomas Blow
ARSENAL'S FIRST SIX
The Gunners won't start their Premier League campaign at the Emirates – but they won't be far away from home.
Mikel Arteta's side travel to Brentford in their game of the new season.
Here are Arsenal's first six Prem fixtures (subject to change)…
- Brentford (A) – August 14 – 3pm
- Chelsea (H) – August 21 – 3pm
- Manchester City (A) – August 28 – 3pm
- Norwich City (H) – September 11 – 3pm
- Burnley (A) – September 18 – 3pm
- Tottenham (H) – September 25 – 3pm
ARSENAL'S WHITE INTEREST 'UNDIMINISHED'
According to The Athletic, Arsenal's interested in Ben White remains 'undiminished' – despite Brighton reportedly rejecting a £40million offer for the defender.
Expect to see the Gunners return with another bid in the coming days.
BRIGHT IDEA
Brighton have reportedly rejected a £40million bid from Arsenal for defender Ben White.
Sky Sports claims the Gunners launched their ambitious offer on Wednesday for Graham Potter’s England star.
But Brighton rejected the offer after reportedly slapping White with a £50m price-tag following his Euros call-up.
However, it’s added that Arsenal remain undeterred and are expected to return with an improved offer.
MORE ON SMITH ROWE
Arsenal have rejected a £25million offer from Aston Villa for Emile Smith Rowe.
The 20-year-old has burst onto the scene this season with the North London side but is currently discussing a new contract with the club.
His current deal runs in June 2023 – and Villa were hoping to pounce on the uncertainty over his future.
They submitted their bid to Arsenal earlier, however, Mikel Arteta’s side instantly rejected it.
Negotiations over an extension began in April with Arteta keen to secure his long-term future as swiftly as possible.
Smith Rowe is a product of Arsenal’s Hale End academy and joined them aged 10.
ROWE YOUR BOAT
Arsenal have batted away Aston Villa’s efforts to land Emile Smith Rowe on the cheap with the Gunners still trying to secure the youngster’s future.
- Joe Brophy
PRE-SEASON BREAK
England's Prem stars – including Arsenal ace Bukayo Saka – will get a two-week break next season – although not an official one.
But overseas players from outside Europe face a globe-trotting fortnight while team-mates have their feet up.
The FA and Prem agreed to a three-season trial of the “mid season player break” starting in February 2020.
But the impact of the pandemic on last season’s congested fixtures meant the trial was temporarily abandoned – and there is no return of the “split” fixtures for the 2021-22 campaign.
Instead, the new fixtures list showed consecutive weekends at the end of January and beginning of February without Prem games.
That is partly because the FA Cup fourth round will take place on the weekend of February 5th and 6th.
But with Fifa having squeezed in a series of catch-up World Cup qualifiers in Africa, Asia, South America, Concacaf and Oceania for the last week of January, it meant no Prem games were possible for January 29.
With League matches due on the weekend of January 22 and then again in the midweek starting Tuesday February 8, it could see a number of Gareth Southgate’s squad having as much as 17 days off if they are rested for the FA Cup tie.
Other Europeans will also be able to take advantage of the rest.
But the likes of Egypt’s Mo Salah, Korea’s Heung-min Son and Brazilians Ederson, Alisson and Richarlison will all be expected to head back to their home continents to play two or three 2022 qualifiers before returning to the UK.
- Joe Brophy
THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
ITV are thumping BBC in the battle of the Euro 2020 broadcasters having shown more than DOUBLE the number of goals.
Both broadcasters have shown six games apiece with the first round of group-stage fixtures in the books.
While the six games on the Beeb have seen just nine goals shown – just 1.5 per game – ITV viewers have been treated to 19.
That's a staggering 3.2 goals per game.
While the BBC has endured goal-shy matches such as England's 1-0 win over Croatia and Spain's 0-0 draw with Sweden, ITV have seen net-busters galore.
In just six games, they have already shown Holland's thrilling 3-2 win over Ukraine and Austria's 3-1 victory over North Macedonia.
- Joe Brophy
LOK-ED INTO NEGOTIATIONS
Arsenal saw an opening offer of £13.5m rejected by Anderlecht for midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga.
The Belgian team are believed to be looking for a sum of £18m and Arsenal fall £4.5m short of the valuation.
The Daily Mail are, however, reporting that there is confidence that a deal can be made.
And with the two teams not far apart, a deal is ver possible.
- Joe Brophy
BEE SEASON
Ivan Toney will have a ‘very difficult choice to make’ if Arsenal make a move for the Brentford striker this summer.
Former Bees hero Sam Sodje told All Nigeria Soccer: “There’s a time I was in that position where you play for Brentford and big clubs come for you.
“Brentford have gone up, Toney had a great season so this might be the opportunity to play for a top of the Premier League club.
“But at the same time you want him to play games in the Premier League so he has to go to a club or stay at Brentford where he’ll get games in the Premier League.
“When it comes to individual goals, it’s not every day you get the opportunity to play for Arsenal, Manchester United or the big clubs, so it is a very difficult choice to make.
“There are two things, either you stay at Brentford, play every game or take the opportunity to play for a big club.”
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