Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Houssem Aouar, Thomas Partey, Nuno Mendes, David Raya and more - plus Premier League updates
The Gunners are looking to make late additions after a fine summer to boost Mikel Arteta’s squad
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Mikel Arteta is looking to bolster his Arsenal squad in the remaining weeks of the season, with midfield his priority as French international and Lyon star Houssem Aouar and Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey remain the ideal options.
Here are the latest transfer rumours, done deals and more surrounding the Emirates.
THIAGO COMPLETE MOVE TO LIVERPOOL
Liverpool have finalised the £25 million signing of Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich in a significant move to strengthen their designs on retaining the Premier League title.
The pedigreed midfielder passed a medical on Friday before penning a four-year deal with the champions of England.
The Merseysiders had been in talks with their Bundesliga counterparts from the start of the week over structuring the fee, with an agreement between the clubs materialising on Thursday morning.
A guaranteed £20m will be paid over the course of Thiago's contract, while an additional £5m is dependent on performance-based bonuses, such as winning the top flight or Champions League.
Thiago Alcantara completes Liverpool move for £25m
The Spain midfielder will wear the No 6 jersey at Anfield
GUARDIOLA REACTS TO THIAGO TO LIVERPOOL
I wasn’t trying to sign him at Man City because we have enough players in this position. I am happy that Thiago comes to England because you’ll enjoy a really good player
ARTETA ON KOLASINAC DEPARTURE
I think in every case you have to try to take it individually. First of all, try to understand the reason - if that's the case - when they want to leave and why. If there are things that you can help them to change, to give them more, you have to try to maximise those options and when it comes to a point where it's obviously something that you cannot control and cannot help and it's evident and clear, then you open the door. But then it goes down to the club to decide when and how and that's a player with a contract that has to get the right value and go to the right club.
ARTETA ON SIGNINGS
We are trying all the time to adjust the squad in the most efficient way. It is clear at the moment that it has to go both ways and in order to achieve that we still have some time but we are pretty clear in what we are trying to do.
AC MILAN JOIN RACE FOR TORREIRA
AC Milan have joined the race to sign Arsenal defensive midfielder Lucas Torreira, according to reports in Italy.
Mikel Arteta has deemed the Uruguayan surplus to requirements and hopes to offload Torreira in order to fund a move for a replacement, with Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey being the Gunners’ first choice.
Torino have announced their interest in Torreira and were thought to be the likeliest destination. However, they’re seeking a loan deal while Arsenal would prefer to sell permanently.
Milan were linked with an approach for Torreira in January, too, but it remains to be seen whether they will match Arsenal’s £20m asking price.
SHERWOOD: CEBALLOS ‘TOO WEAK FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE’
Ceballos in my opinion is average. I think he’s too weak for the Premier League and I think he’ll get found out this year.
I think they need a little bit more guile in there. You need a player in there like Mesut Ozil in that middle of the pitch.
When teams are scared of the pace of Saka and Aubameyang and Lacazette and they want to defend deep where’s the guile where’s the player who is going to open the teams up. Ozil is the man to do that.
WRIGHT: OZIL THE PERFECT PLAYER FOR ARTETA
If you could have got Mesut Ozil onside in this particular team with the way the manager thinks and the intensity that we now have, he is literally the perfect player. But it doesn't seem like that is going to happen. It doesn't seem like there is any way back for Ozil. I was in the ground the other day and he was walking around, he looked happy enough.
The confusing thing for me is that everybody knows that if you do buy into Arteta's gameplan, then you're probably going to get in there.
I just find it really sad that nobody is able to convince him or make him understand that, even if you are going to leave. At the end of the day, he's still paid to be a footballer for the club.
If it's attitude isn't right in training or whatever, we've seen that Arteta will play them if they do show that, so I find it devastating that we can't find someone to get him to understand how integral he could be to this style at Arsenal.
LYON IDENTIFY AOUAR REPLACEMENT
Lyon have identified Lucas Paqueta as the replacement for Houssem Aouar.
L’Equipe report OL want the 23-year-old Brazilian, who has shone for AC Milan.
While Aouar, 22, has made it clear he wants to leave the Ligue 1 club.
The sale of Paqueta could allow Milan to press home negotiations with Chelsea for Tiemoue Bakayoko.
MARTINEZ NOT GUARANTEED TO BE ‘AUTOMATIC NO 1'
He’s ready to play, whether he’s our automatic No 1 depends on what he does in training and matches. He played against us a couple of weeks ago and he played in the Community Shield, so he’s probably had more games than our goalkeepers. In terms of readiness, he’s 100%.
LIVERPOOL IN FOR DEMBELE
Incredibly, Liverpool aren’t done just yet as Thiago Alcantara could be followed by Ousmane Dembele.
The Barcelona winger is out of favour and has failed to integrate alongside Lionel Messi.
Sport claim that negotiations have begun over a loan deal with a sizeable fee.
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