Elsewhere, Arsenal are looking to sign attacking reinforcements this summer, and have reportedly made contact with Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers.
Arsenal are on the verge of signing Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, reports claim.
And the Gunners will pay just a £5m release clause to their London rivals, who once made Kepa the world’s most expensive goalkeeper.
Arsenal had made Kepa their top target as they look to recruit a deputy to No 1 goalkeeper David Raya.
But the 30-year-old Spanish stopper, who just enjoyed a solid season as Bournemouth’s first-choice stopper, won’t settle for a No 2 spot under Mikel Arteta.
According to The Athletic, Arsenal are “close” to activating Kepa’s £5m release clause, after he kept nine clean sheets in 31 Prem appearances this term.
Kepa has just 12 months left on his contract at Stamford Bridge, having made 35 appearances at Bournemouth in all competitions.
The Spaniard joined Chelsea for a £71.6m fee from Athletic Club in 2018 and has featured 163 times for the West London side, winning four major honours.
And it has been revealed that it will take an offer in excess of £250,000-a-week to tempt Rodrygo away from Real Madrid.
Robbie Williams took a cheeky dig at Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Friday night.
The singer was performing at the Gunners’ home ground on the second night of his European tour.
The Port Vale fan got Arsenal fans to cheer and those who support a different team to boo.
He then joked: “How far away are Arsenal from a European trophy?
“Four f***ing miles,” prompting wild cheers from any Spurs fans in the audience.
Crystal Palace and Aston Villa have joined Arsenal and Chelsea in the transfer chase for Ousmane Diomande.
Centre-back Diomande, 21, has made a name for himself with his excellent performances for Sporting.
That has earned plenty of interest from clubs in England.
But now reports state Europa League sides Villa and Palace are keen to make approaches for the Gunners and Blues target.
Thomas Tuchel revealed he left Declan Rice out of the starting XI against Andorra because he looked “out of rhythm”.
England laboured to a drab 1-0 win in Barcelona in their World Cup qualifier.
Rice came on as a late sub but Jordan Henderson started in midfield.
And Tuchel said: “Declan looked a little bit out of rhythm and I think Jordan deserved to play.
“And also for what Jordan brings to this group, well deserved.
“We started well and then lost the rhythm and precision and also the energy to be more decisive and score more goals.
It is necessary that we look at it and then present in detail to the players what we don’t like, what we want to do better and what are the standards.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could make a transfer return to England this summer… by joining Leicester.
The former Arsenal and Liverpool man has played under NINE different managers in two years at Besiktas.
But with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side keen to get his chunky salary off the wage bill, reports in Turkey suggest Leicester could offer him a route back into English football, albeit in the Championship.
SunSport revealed in January the Foxes were interested in signing Oxlade-Chamberlain but a deal did not materialise.
Arsenal have moved ahead of rivals Tottenham in the race for Leroy Sane, according to reports.
Bild state that the Gunners are in pole position to swoop should the German decide to leave Bayern Munich.
His current deal expires at the end of this month.
The ex-Manchester City man has hired a new agent – but signing a contract extension at the Allianz remains on the cards.
