Arsenal transfer news live - Gunners on £18m Wilson alert, Benzema statement

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Atletico land Arsenal target

Arsenal target Arthur Vermeeren has joined Atletico Madrid from Royal Antwerp. The 18-year-old midfielder has signed a six-and-a-half-year deal with the Spanish club after they won the race for him.

Arsenal had been linked with Vermeeren, but decided to wait until the summer to make a move, according to reports. They won't get that chance now.

Atleti have have paid €18million (£15.4m) to sign the Belgian, while a further €5m could be due in add-ons.

Arsenal admire Brighton target

Arsenal are admirers of Leicester midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who could be on his way to Brighton.

The Athletic reports that Brighton are in negotiations to sign the 25-year-old. Leicester want £30million for his signature, which is above the Seagulls' asking price.

Arsenal are named alongside Brentford and Fulham as clubs who have been keeping an eye on his progress.

Osimhen to leave Napoli in the summer

Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have been put on red alert after Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis admitted Victor Osimhen would be sold in the summer.

"This was already known since this summer, our negotiations [over the new contract] were friendly, otherwise it would not have been so long," De Laurentiis said. "We knew he would go to Real Madrid, PSG or a top English club."

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Victor Osimhen (Getty Images)

Rice sends message to Phillips

Declan Rice may have left West Ham behind for Arsenal, but he is pleased that Kalvin Phillips has signed for his old club.

Arsenal lose eight players and sign three as January transfer window closes

Phillips has joined the Hammers on loan until the end of the season from Manchester City and Rice replied to his Instagram post with: “Smash it, brother! Buzzing for you.”

The two player alongside each other in England's midfield and regular minutes for Phillips is certainly a good thing for the Three Lions ahead of Euro 2024 this summer.

Arsenal target Boey off to Bayern

It appears that Arsenal have missed out on signing Galatasaray right-back Sacha Boey.

The 23-year-old is off to Bayern Munich, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Sacha Boey will travel to Munich for medical and contract signing on Saturday.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 26, 2024

Cedric update

The Evening Standard have added some more meat to the bones of the Cedric Soares reports (see 16:15).

The report says the 32-year-old defender, who is paid around £100,000-a-week not to play at Arsenal, could move in the coming days, with former Portugal manager Fernando Santos leading Besiktas' interest, having worked with him at international level.

Galatasaray, meanwhile, want to sign Cedric on a permanent deal, something Arsenal would surely welcome, given his lack of game time under MIkel Arteta and the fact his contract expires in June anyway.

(Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal face Bayern competition for right-back

Arsenal are interested in signing Galatasaray right-back Sacha Boey, but Bayern Munich appear to be ahead in the race to get him.

Reports in France yesterday stated that Bayern had bid €15million (£12.8m) for Boey after a move for Kieran Trippier was ruled out. But Galatasaray are going to hold out, partly because they know Arsenal are also interested, and they value him at €30m (£25.6m).

(Richard Callis/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Juventus keeping an eye on Patino

Charlie Patino is a player with a fair bit of hype attached to him at Arsenal. The 20-year-old midfielder is on loan at Swansea, but is being watched by Juventus.

Calciomercato reports that Juve talent spotter Cristiano Giuntoli is a fan of the Arsenal academy graduate and the Italian giants are reportedly going to pursue a different transfer strategy, focused on young players, in the future.

Charlie Patino is currently on loan with Swansea (Getty Images)

Turkish clubs want Cedric

Cedric Soares is out of contract with Arsenal in the summer and looks set to leave on a free transfer.

Mikel Arteta might not want to deplete his squad mid-season, but Cedric will be heading to pastures new in the summer - and that could mean Turkey. Reports from the country suggest that Istanbul giants Besiktas and Galatasaray are both keen on the 32-year-old Portugal international.

Patino guarded over Arsenal future

Arsenal youngster Charlie Patino has suggested he is open to anything amid an upcoming decision on his Arsenal future.

Speaking with football.london, he said: "Whatever happens, happens for me - I just take everything day by day. I don't really look too much towards the end of the season right now. I'm here with Swansea now and I want to help them try and get into the play-offs and contribute to as many goals and assists as possible - and to get as many wins as possible.

“We've got 18 games left, still a lot of time to keep showing the player I am and keep improving. I don't want to say if I'm ready (to play a part in the first team at Arsenal), but I'll take it daily and I'm here with Luke and the staff - let's see what happens.”

Tavares to miss out on Marseille move

Arsenal defender Nuno Tavares is set to miss out on a switch to Marseille according to L'Equipe.

The Portuguese was linked with a move to his former club this month after a disappointing spell with Nottingham Forest. However, L'Equipe have bad news for Tavares.

It is suggested that Marseille have instead focused their efforts on signing Quentin Merlin from Nantes instead, leaving Tavares in limbo. He is due to be a Forest player until the end of the season.

Rice had major Phillips role

Kalvin Phillips has revealed that Declan Rice played a huge role in his loan move to West Ham.

He said: “I know quite a bit (about West Ham). I know the song before the game! I’ve spoken to Dec quite a bit about West Ham as well and I’ve not spoken to Jarrod (Bowen) or (Danny) Ingsy or Prowsey yet but I’ll see them tomorrow at training…

“I didn’t watch the game (the Europa Conference League final triumph), but I watched the celebrations. I saw loads of videos of Dec celebrating as well. I was very happy for Dec and Jarrod – they’re great guys and I speak to them quite a lot with England.”

Osimhen urged to make Arsenal move

Gary Lineker has suggested that Victor Osimhen should move to Arsenal.

Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, he said: “I think I’d look at it and I’d go, at the moment, Arsenal.

“Obviously, we’re talking about everyone offers the same thing, that’s what you want, blah blah blah in your contract. I mean, to be honest, they earn so much now that you can just choose where you want to go.

“I would say, Arsenal are probably a centre-forward away from winning things. Chelsea are a centre-forward away from becoming competitive again. Manchester United are a centre-forward away from improving, but they’ve still got a long way to go.

“If I were him, you want to go somewhere where you think you’re going to win things.”

Ancelotti responds to Benzema rumours

Real Madrid have handed Arsenal a boost to their hopes of signing Karim Benzema, with Carlo Ancelotti ruling out a swoop for the Frenchman.

Speaking in a press conference, he said: “Reports of Karim Benzema back to Real Madrid are fake. It’s fake news. I did not speak to the club about Karim Benzema and potential return."

Karim Benzema (Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport)

Klopp won't return to the Premier League

Jurgen Klopp has revealed he would never take over at another Premier League club after his Liverpool exit.

He said: “I need to find a different purpose as well, I need to have a look for it. If you ask me ‘will you ever work as a manager again?’, I would say now, no. But I don’t know obviously how that will feel as I have never had that situation.

"But I know definitely, I will never ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100 per cent. That’s not possible. My love for this club, my respect for this club, the people, it’s too big, I couldn’t for a second think about it, there’s no chance. This is part of my family, we feel at home here, there’s no chance to do that."

Howe doubles down on Wilson

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has once again reiterated his desire to keep Callum Wilson at the club amid interest from Arsenal.

He said: "It's been a strange one. A lot of speculation and a lot of it unfounded. From our side, he's a huge part of what we do. We're desperate to get our two strikers fit again. He's nearing a return and looks good. He's getting there. There's no part of me that wants to lose him."

Galatasaray eye Cedric

Arsenal might have an even better chance to sign Sacha Boey this January, with Galatasaray interested in amove for a current Gunner.

According to reports, the Turkish side have entered the race for Portuguese right-back Cedric Soares. It is suggested that they want to sign him on a permanent deal and not on loan.

Besiktas are also apparently interested.

Arsenal interested in Milinkovic-Savic

Arsenal couldpotentially offer Sergej Milinkovic-Savic a route out of Saudi Arabia.

According to Tutto Juve, the Gunners are interested in him but could face competition from Juventus. It is suggested that current side Al-Hilal want to receive around £34m for him.

Klopp to leave Liverpool

Some breaking news from elsewhere in the Premier League now with Jurgen Klopp shockingly announcing that he will leave Liverpool.

The German is set to leave Anfield at the end of the campaign.

Read more here

Jurgen Klopp (Getty Images)

Bent approves Wilson deal

Speaking of Wilson, former Premier League striker Darren Bent believes that the Newcastle star would be an ideal signing for Arsenal.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “Yeah, for £20million. I’ll take that. 100%.

“If he’s fully fit [he would start]. He scores more goals than the other two, and that’s just fact.”

Wilson 'committed to Newcastle'

Arsenal target Callum Wilson is "committed" to Newcastle, according to Eddie Howe, but he has hinted a sale might be out of his hands.

Speaking in a press conference, Howe said: “Once again, he’s 100% committed to this club. We want to keep Callum. But obviously some things are out of my control."

Chelsea and Manchester United have both been linked.

Arsenal are among a clutch of clubs interested in Callum Wilson (Getty Images)

Wenger 'helping' with Boey move

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is reportedly helping the Gunners sign Sacha Boey.

That is according to reports in Turkey, who suggest that the Frenchman is helping behind the scenes amid the Gunners' interest in the right-back.

Bayern Munich are also attempting to sign Boey before the end of the transfer window.

Leipzig eye late Smith-Rowe swoop

Arsenal academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe could be among the players to leave the club late in the January transfer window.

The Gunners have already rejected a loan move for the playmaker from West Ham. Now, according to The Sun, German side RB Leipzig are tracking him.

It is suggested that they are interested in signing him on loan with the option for a permanent deal. Smith Rowe made three appearances for the German club during a previous loan stint.

Arsenal backed to lose out in Osimhen race

Micah Richards has predicted that Chelsea will steal in and sign Victor Osimhen from under Arsenal's noses.

Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, the ex-Man City star said: “Something in my mind says Chelsea. I don’t know why, but I think Chelsea. Because they’re the most desperate for a striker.

“I think Arsenal would love to have him, but they still see Jesus as a number nine and they’ve got Nketiah. I think Chelsea will do more business. There’s something, I don’t know why, but I just think Chelsea will get him.”

Barcelona eye Thomas Partey

Thomas Partey could be in line for a return to Spain with Barcelona reportedly eyeing him.

According to AS, the former Atletico Madrid star could leave the Emirates Stadium at the end of the season. Barcelona are keeping tabs on his future.

There is a problem though. Barcelona's financial situation does not allow them to spend heavily on Partey and Arsenal are not likely to allow him to leave for a small fee.

(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Wilson eyed as Cedric primed for exit

There could potentially be a host of moves from the Emirates over the past few days.

Cedric Soares could be set to leave the club and he has been made available for transfer by the Gunners. That could potentially give Arsenal the funds to move for Callum Wilson.

Take a look at the latest rumours HERE

Good morning!

Good morning and welcome along to Mirror Football's live Arsenal transfer blog.

We've not got long of the January transfer window remaining so stay tuned throughout the day for all of the news from the Emirates Stadium.