A select round-up of transfer rumours relating to Arsenal, including Cesc Fabregas, Wayne Rooney and Gonzalo Higuain.
Arsene Wenger has said he believes Cesc Fabregas will not leave Barcelona this summer, but that Arsenal are monitoring the midfielder’s situation, amid rumours Manchester United have made a bid for the 26-year-old.
Manchester United are apparently considering a £30million bid for the player after missing out on Thiago Alcantara, but Arsenal have a first option on Fabregas should he decide to leave.
“At the moment, Fabregas has decided to stay one more year at Barcelona,” said Wenger.
“We have the clause in the contract so we would be on alert but at the moment that’s not something we’re after.”
Wenger has also indicated Arsenal will join Chelsea in the hunt for Manchester United’s wantaway striker Wayne Rooney, and compared the situation to Robin Van Persie’s transfer last summer.
Chelsea have already made a bid for the England international, but Wenger has said that Arsenal would have no problem affording Rooney’s wages if they were to attempt a deal for the striker.
Manchester United have so far indicated they would like to keep Rooney, but the forward has apparently been left “angry and confused” by recent suggestions from David Moyes he is considered a back up option for Van Persie, who was the Premier League’s top scorer last season for the second year in a row.
Arsenal will face competition from Napoli for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain, with the Italian club’s president Aurelio De Laurentiis saying the Argentine is a target this summer.
De Laurentiis said that Napoli have a £104million warchest to spend on players after selling Edinson Cavani to PSG for around £55million, and has lined up Higuain, along with one-time Tottenham Hotspur target Leandro Damiao, to replace the Uruguayan up front.
Arsenal had seemed close to agreeing a deal for Higuain, but the Argentine is considering staying at Real Madrid under new manager Carlo Ancelotti, and the Gunners could no switch their focus to Rooney and Luis Suarez.
image: © ins11thiago
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