Real Madrid want Richarlison but know they would have to deal with Daniel Levy, Chelsea are low-balling Brentford and Arsenal are after Lautaro Martinez.
MART BUSINESS
Arsenal have had their lead atop the Premier League table cut down to three points ahead of Wednesday’s slightly important game against Manchester City, but transfer plans are still being put in place at the Emirates. Whether they are glorious champions or merely an exciting Champions League project come the summer, Mikel Arteta has some more primary targets to miss out on before finding cheaper and more obtainable alternatives.
It remains to be seen just who they will land on after failing to extract Lautaro Martinez from Inter Milan at the end of the season. But Football Insider suggest such a move will be explored because Arsenal ‘have been rocked by the injury to Gabriel Jesus’.
The Brazilian is scheduled to return by March so quite why Arsenal will sign his replacement in July is unknown.
But another factor is Inter’s continued financial struggles, which have seen them value Martinez – ‘viewed as the most saleable asset at the club’ – at around £70m to £80m.
Arsenal have ‘an active interest’ and have been in touch with representatives of the World Cup winner, who ‘would be very keen’ on a move to the Premier League. Man Utd just so happen to have been linked too.
GET RICH OR DIE TRYING
Richarlison is probably not a viable centre-forward option for Arsenal, but Real Madrid seem to like the idea of signing the Brazilian.
Real trail Barcelona by 11 points in La Liga and have scored three fewer goals than their bitter rivals, with an over-reliance on 35-year-old Karim Benzema instigating a mild Bernabeu panic as to how he will eventually be replaced.
After hedging everything on Kylian Mbappe last summer, Real will set their sights a little lower for what is deemed by ESPN sources to be an “essential” attacking signing. The outlet names Richarlison and Juventus struggler Dusan Vlahovic as potential options.
The latter could be easier to procure than the former. A deal for Richarlison ‘would not be straightforward’ because of his long-term contract and, if we’re all completely honest here, the unavoidable scenario of having to negotiate with Daniel Levy.
RAYA SUNSHINE
Thomas Frank seems to have taken the likely exit of Brentford goalkeeper David Raya squarely on the chin. A couple of contract offers have been made to the Spaniard, whose deal…
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