Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s Arsenal future is in doubt with Unai Emery having concluded that neither he nor Mesut Ozil has a future at the Emirates.
The decision isn’t just down to the pair’s inconsistency this season but also the fact that Arsenal boss Emery needs to make significant cuts to the squad wage bill.
Mkhitaryan is one of Arsenal’s highest earners, taking home £180,000 per week, while Ozil nets £350,000 for each week’s work.
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The Daily Mirror says that Spaniard Emery “believes Mkhitaryan’s salary could be better spent elsewhere” as he looks to rebuild the squad he inherited last summer from Arsene Wenger.
The paper says that Danny Welbeck will also be asked to empty his locker, while one player Emery has in his sights is Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney.
Get this Partey started
Arsenal and Manchester City are gearing up for a summer showdown over Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey, says the Daily Express.
The paper claims that the 25-year-old Ghanaian, a key member of the La Liga outfit under manager Diego Simeone, is likely to leave Atletico in the summer.
Taking its information from Spanish newspaper AS, the Express explains that Arsenal and Man City are both “interested in prising Partey away from Madrid to shore up their respective midfields”.
Sources close to the player say he is attracted by the Premier League and he would ideally like to play for a club managed by a Spaniard.
City boss Pep Guardiola and Gunners gaffer Emery fit that bill but the obstacle may be Partey’s release clause, with Atletico willing to talk terms only if a potential suitor meets their £43m asking price.
Carrasco comes clean
Arsenal failed in their bid to prise Yannick Carrasco from China in January but the Belgian winger could still make the move to the Emirates in the summer, says the Daily Star.
Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang failed to agree terms with the Gunners in the winter transfer window but Carrasco remains hopeful that he can relaunch his career next season.
In conversation with broadcaster HLN, the former Atletico Madrid star said: “I would love to return to Europe. A lot of clubs were interested in me. We tried to find a solution in January that would enable me to leave.”
Although Carrasco didn’t mention Arsenal by name, it’s believed he has the Gunners in mind although the Star says that Inter Milan are also interested in the Belgian wideman.
Fight for Thuram
French broadcasters are reporting that Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund are vying for the hand of Marcus Thuram.
Son of French legend Lilian, the 21-year-old Guingamp forward is expected to leave the unfancied club in the summer if they are relegated.
Thuram has scored 11 goals in 29 appearances this season but that hasn’t prevented Guingamp dropping to last in the league and the French press claim Unai Emery is in pole position to sign the young striker.
Upcoming Premier League fixtures and TV guide
Saturday 30 March (3pm unless stated)
- Fulham vs. Manchester City (12.30pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Southampton
- Burnley vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Crystal Palace vs. Huddersfield Town
- Leicester City vs. AFC Bournemouth
- Manchester United vs. Watford
- West Ham United vs. Everton (5.30pm, live on BT Sport)
Sunday 31 March
- Cardiff City vs. Chelsea (2.05pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur (4.30pm, live on Sky Sports)
Monday 1 April
- Arsenal vs. Newcastle United (8pm, live on Sky Sports)
Tuesday 2 April
- Watford vs. Fulham (7.45pm)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Manchester United (7.45pm, live on Sky Sports)
Wednesday 3 April
- Chelsea vs. Brighton & Hove Albion (7.45pm)
- Manchester City vs. Cardiff City (7.45pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Tottenham Hotspur vs. Crystal Palace (7.45pm)
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