All the latest news and gossip from The Emirates Stadium this morning.
Reports in Spain suggest Santi Cazorla does want a move back to Spain. It is believed he has told friends and family about his desire to join Atletico Madrid this summer. The La Liga champions have enjoyed a sensational season, but face a summer of uncertainty as many of their big name players are linked with moves away from the Vicente Calderon.
Atletico are believed to want Cazorla, who only recently signed a new deal at The Emirates, for a fee in the region of £20 million.
If Cazorla is adamant on leaving it is not believed The Gunners will stand in his way.
Arsenal are believed to have entered the race for Wilfried Bony of Swansea City – after his agent talked up a potential Liberty Stadium exit.
The Ivorian – who scored 25 goals last season in his debut English campaign – reportedly wants a move to a ‘top six’ club.
“I spoke to Newcastle about Bony last summer. Newcastle should have bought Bony a year ago but they didn’t believe in him. They could have signed him for £10 million, but they said they weren’t sure if he was good enough, that he was only playing in Holland [with Vitesse]. Now he is worth £20m. The next step for Bony is a top-six team in England or a top team in Germany, Spain or France, or he will stay with Swansea. We have a certain strategy. Bony is in a totally different place to Newcastle and wants to move to a club with ambition.”
Swansea would be prepared to sell the player at the right price.
Thomas Vermaelen looks increasingly like making a move from Arsenal this summer. The Belgian, who is club captain, has not played for the team regularly since the emergence of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny as a defensive partnership.
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