Arsenal have reportedly declared interest in signing Gareth Bale this summer.

Arsenal have reportedly declared interest in signing Gareth Bale this summer.

The Real Madrid hero is eyeing a move away from the Bernabeu, despite winning his fourth Champions League winner’s medal in just four years.

Bale has been out of favour by Zinedine Zidane this season and started just over half of Real’s La Liga matches.

Other than his links with Tottenham, the forward is suggested to be attracting strong interest from Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain which could also see Unai Emery’s side struggle to land him.

Bale’s lack of match time this season still saw him fire in 16 goals in La Liga.

He also netted a spectacular overhead kick in the Champions League final to seal Real Madrid’s triumph in a row – a record.

It’s uncertain how much the the Welshman could cost, but the saga is likely to role on till the end of the summer.

Gooners, would you like to see Bale at Arsenal? Let us know in the comments…

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Arsenal boss Unai Emery will complete first signing this week, £16m deal agreed

Arsenal boss Unai Emery will complete first signing this week, £16m deal agreed ● News Now - sokratis papastathopoulos ● welcome to arsenal ● superb defensive skills ● 2018 - hd. arsenal set to sign borussia dortmund defender sokratis papastathopoulos ● news now ● #afc. 5million signing of borussia dortmund ace sokratis papastathopoulos according to reports.. the video about sokratis papastathopoulos's defending skills in 2017/18. arsenal targeting sokratis papastathopoulos as part of new back five this summer in overhaul of arsene wenger's squad - u... arsenal plotting transfer move for borussia dortmund star sokratis papastathopoulos.. arsenal 'favourites to sign sokratis papastathopoulos' with borussia dortmund prepared to cash-in on £18m-rated greece centre back....

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Arsene Wenger: 'Arsenal tried to sign Lionel Messi'

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that the club tried to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona in 2003.

The Gunners were interested in three Barcelona players - Messi, Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas - before they broke into the first team at the Camp Nou, but were forced to settle for only the latter, who went on to make more than 300 appearances for the club.

Pique instead joined Manchester United before returning to Barcelona, whereas Messi stayed at Barcelona his entire career and has since established himself as arguably the greatest footballer of all time.

"The story of Cesc Fabregas is that Franny Cagiago and Steve Rowley brought the player here and we had to convince him. I met Cesc's parents and at the time we were interested in Messi and Pique as well," Wenger told Arsenal's official website.

"We tried for the three but of course it didn't work out, but we got a gem there in Cesc and he is an exceptional player. A brain for football. [It didn't work out with Messi and Pique] because of the agents. I think it was linked with Nike at the time and they wanted Pique to go to Man United.

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Ornstein reveals plan as Sokratis Papastathopoulos deal close

That’s according to BBC Sport journalist David Ornstein, who says Sven Mislintat is behind the Gunners’ move for the Greece international.

Arsenal are in the midst of a summer of change following Unai Emery's appointment as Arsene Wenger's successor at the Emirates.

Emery takes on the role of head coach in the club's new continental model, with Mislintat and Raul Sanllehi in charge of recruitment.

And Ornstein, who broke news of Emery's appointment, says the 29-year-old's arrival is part of a wider plan to buy seasoned stars.

"As per @JackPittBrooke Arsenal close to signing Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Dortmund," he wrote on Twitter.

"Latest acquisition led by Sven Mislintat, continues drive to rebuild defence/squad with experience/leadership.

"#AFC prioritising ready players & will integrate youth (eg Mavropanos) over time."

Arsenal are said to be paying around £16m for Papastathopoulos, who joined Dortmund from Werder Bremen in 2013.

They are believed to have budgeted for just £50m net spend going into the summer window - far less than those of their Premier League rivals.

Transfer guru Guillem Balague believes Arsenal can make that projected amount work by boosting their funds with sales though.

"Up until now, as everybody knows, everything had to go through Arsene Wenger but Unai Emery is happy to repeat the same position he has had at Sevilla, Valencia and PSG in which he was a head coach," said Balague.

"This means - if it's the same infrastructure - he can advise on what kind of players he needs and the club goes and gets them, for instance, and he won't have much of a say in the amount of budget that's needed. That will be down to the club.

"He will do what he is the best at - maximise the potential of the side and take the players out of their comfort zone. He will try and put a different kind of training, an intense training, in place with the idea that it gets transmitted into the games.

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Arsenal linked with cut-price Stoke midfielder

There has been much talk about Arsenal’s very small transfer war chest; 50 million if you believe some rumours and 70 million if you believe others. With it looking like Emery’s first signing is going to be the free agent Stefan Lichsteiner from Juventus it is entirely possible that Arsenal could also be tempted by the Senegal international Badou Ndiaye, who could have a cup-price get-out clause after seeing Stoke City relegated this season.

Badou (real name = Papa Alioune Ndiaye) only arrived at Stoke from Galatasary in January and has only played 13 times for the Potters, but it has been revealed he can leave by the Galatasaray correspondent Mehmet Ozcan, who was quoted as saying: “Ndiaye has a clause in his contract so he could leave on certain conditions. From Turkey I know that Fenerbahce and Besiktas met his representatives over a potential move.

“I also know that three clubs from the Premier League want him.”

Ndiaye was very highly rated at Stoke despite them getting relegated and he could be a surprise star of the future. He is big and strong and could help out the Gunners leaky defence next season. He only cost Stoke £14m in January so could by a value signing. Is he worth a gamble at that price?

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Arsenal 'eye Lorenzo Pellegrini move'

Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini this summer.

Pellegrini, 21, scored three times in 37 appearances for Roma during the 2017-18 campaign.

The midfielder only returned to Roma last summer following a spell at Sassuolo, but it is understood that he has a £26m release clause inserted into his current deal.

According to Sky Sports News, new Arsenal boss Unai Emery is interested in signing the three-time Italy international, although Juventus are also considering an approach.

Pellegrini featured in Italy's 1-1 draw with England back in March.

According to Sky Sport Italia pundit Gianluca Di Marzio, Arsenal and their new manager Unai Emery have set their sights on Pellegrini for next season.

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Guardiola: I knew Man City would win the title in September

Having seen his side crowned Premier League champions, the Catalan coach claims to have known that success was coming from very early in the campaign

Pep Guardiola claims to have known that Manchester City would be crowned Premier League champions since seeing them beat Chelsea in September.

The Catalan coach saw his side state their intentions early on in 2017/18 , with a 1-1 draw at home to Everton in August followed by a 20-match winning run in all competitions.

That surge carried them clear in the English top-flight , while also making positive progress in the Carabao Cup and Champions League.

Two of those trophies have now been secured, with Guardiola revealing that he knew success was on the cards after overseeing a narrow 1-0 win over the defending Premier League champions on September 30.

He said: “I think winning at Stamford Bridge gave us the confidence that we could do it. Because last season against other contenders we were not so good. We won few games.

“Winning at Stamford Bridge gave us a feeling of, ‘OK, against the last champions, we are able to come here and play.’

“But in general we were so, so stable. And OK, Sergio [Aguero] is a genius, a top player about 30 years old but the other guys are 20, 21 years old, so we won with guys so young.

“Playing in the Champions League at that age, sometimes it is complicated. But maybe it will be a lesson for the future for them and next season.

“Now we have to try [to get better]. If you read what the people say this week we have to improve. But you cannot deny that we were good this season. Every single day.

“To make 18 games in a row winning you have to be mentally strong.

“That is important to build up the club. It is important to believe because Manchester City is not like United or Chelsea or Arsenal – you know, the big clubs in England who have a big history behind them.

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