Arsenal prepare £20m bid: Arsene Wenger to sign international star before Liverpool opener

ARSENAL are ready to table a £20m offer for Valencia centre-back Shkodran Mustafi, reports claim.

By Jamie Anderson                    

According to Goal, Arsene Wenger would like to sign an experienced defender before their opening Premier League fixture against Liverpool on August 14.
The Gunners will be without captain Per Mertesacker after the German star suffered a serious knee injury.
They have also granted Laurent Koscielny an extended break following his Euro 2016 exploits, while Gabriel is still recovering from tonsillitis.

Wenger, 66, could be forced to start with a centre-half pairing of Calum Chambers and new signing Rob Holding against Jurgen Klopp's outfit at the Emirates.

Mustafi, 24, was part of Germany's 2014 World Cup winning team and played a prominent role at Euro 2016 - netting the opener against Ukraine.
Arsenal saw their initial £15m bid rejected but are poised to submit an increased £20m deal over the coming days.

WANTED: Valencia star Shkodran Mustafi

Wenger is keeping his cards close to his chest after insisting he's not finalised any new additions - yet.
He said: "We have not closed any deal with anybody at the moment. That’s the answer.
"You speak about Mustafi. Is it Mustafi or anybody else - we haven’t concluded anything at the moment."

Airport official tells European star: Sign for Arsenal or you can't come to England!

SHKODRAN MUSTAFI has been told: Sign for Arsenal or you can't come to England!

By Rhys Turrell                    

The German defender has been linked with a switch to the Gunners.
Mustafi, 24, featured for Germany at Euro 2016 in their run to the semi-finals.
He's currently on the books at Valencia, who are playing in the UK as part of their pre-season preparations.
The Spanish giants face Bournemouth and Crystal Palace during their trip - but a wisecracking border official almost stopped star man Mustafi from joining his pals.

Marca report a customs officer at Gatwick Airport jokingly told the German defender: "Sign for Arsenal or else you aren’t coming through!"
Arsenal have been linked with Mustafi with last season's first-choice centre-back pair Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny set to miss the start of the new campaign.

           
WARNING: Shkodran Mustafi has been told to sign for Arsenal!

Koscielny is putting his feet up after his busy Euro 2016 with France, while Mertesacker faces a lengthy spell out with a knee injury.
 

That's left just Gabriel Paulista, Calum Chambers and new signing Rob Holding battling for a starting spot in the season opener against Liverpool on August 14.
Wenger admits he needs a new man to plug the gap.
"Do I think we will sign an experienced central defender before the season starts? Yes, I do," he said.

Jurgen Klopp suffers major transfer blow: Italy international rejects Liverpool offer

ITALY international Mattia De Sciglio has rejected an offer from Liverpool.
By Alex Harris                    

 
NO THANKS: Mattia De Sciglio has reportedly rejected an offer from Liverpool

That is according to Italian website CalcioMercato, who claim the AC Milan full-back has also snubbed a proposal from Napoli.
De Sciglio, a regular in Antonio Conte's team at Euro 2016, will reportedly only consider quitting Milan if Juventus come calling.

It will come as a blow to Jurgen Klopp after previous reports in Italy suggested he was keen on adding the 23-year-old to his squad.
The Liverpool boss is on the hunt for a full-back to challenge Alberto Moreno with Jon Flanagan heading to Burnley on loan.

Moreno has struggled to impress at Anfield and Klopp started midfielder James Milner in his place in last night's friendly, ironically, against Milan.
De Sciglio has made 104 appearances for Milan since making his professional debut in 2011.

He would have brought versatility to the Reds as he is capable of playing at left-back and right-back.
Klopp has strengthened his defence with two new additions during the summer.
Central defenders Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan arrived from German clubs Schalke and Augsburg respectively.

This is when Man United will announce they have reached an agreement to sign Paul Pogba

MANCHESTER UNITED are likely to announce they have reached an agreement to sign Paul Pogba BEFORE he has a medical.

By Jack Wilson                    

The France midfielder is on holiday with friends in New York as he enjoys extra time off following Euro 2016.
Starsport understands Pogba will this week fly to Manchester for tests before he signs a contract worth £275,000-a-week.
But The Telegraph say an announcement he’s coming in will be made for that before that.
It’s claimed Manchester United will publicly declare they have agreed a deal - then he will see club doctors.

Italian champions Juve removed images of Pogba from the club's official website yesterday.
The 23-year-old had been on the site advertising the club's new kit but has now been replaced by recent signing Miralem Pjanic.
It is another sure sign Pogba is heading back to United, just four seasons after leaving them for nothing following a contract wrangle.

 TOP POG: United are closing in on Paul Pogba

United boss Jose Mourinho hopes to complete the signing in time for him to make his debut in Sunday's Community Shield clash with Leicester at Wembley.
He is poised to wear the No.6 at Old Trafford.
United will have to pay £112m to get their former midfielder back to Old Trafford - four years after he left for just £800,000.

New Liverpool signing posts injury update on Twitter

LORIS KARIUS has undergone a successful operation to repair his broken right hand.

By Jack Wilson                    

I'm back at home after a succesful surgery! Thank you guys for all your get-well wishes! ������������������������ #LK1 @LFC pic.twitter.com/QQ7Luw8AyD

— Loris Karius (@LorisKarius) August 2, 2016

The German returned home early from the club's tour of America after colliding with team-mate Dejan Lovren in last week’s friendly against Chelsea.

Karius, a £4.7m signing from Mainz this summer, is likely to be sidelined for eight to 10 weeks.

It deals a blow to his hopes of challenging Simon Mignolet to be manager Jurgen Klopp's first choice.

But Karius has revealed the surgery went well.

He tweeted a picture of his bandaged hand and wrote: “I’m back at home after a successful surgery! Thank you guys for all your get-well wishes!"

Karius turned down a place in Germany's Olympic squad in order to fight for a starting place.

But injury now means fellow new signing Alex Manninger, a 39-year-old veteran who arrived from Augsburg on a free transfer, will deputise for Mignolet for the start of the campaign.

The remainder of the squad returned home today immediately after their 2-1 defeat to Roma.

They will now begin preparations for their final friendly of pre-season against Barcelona at Wembley on Saturday.

Riyad Mahrez agrees to join Arsenal - reports

LEICESTER winger Riyad Mahrez has agreed to join Arsenal, according to sensational reports in his homeland Algeria.

By Lewis Winter                    

The PFA Player of the Year has been linked with a move to the Emirates and huge claims last night suggest a deal between Mahrez and Arsenal has been done.
Algerian newspaper Le Buteur report how Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger met with Mahrez and his agent.
Wenger's aim in the meeting was to convince Mahrez to join the Gunners, it's been claimed.
And Le Buteur say Mahrez agreed a deal with the north London club and is insistent on joining them.
Leicester remain desperate to tie Mahrez down to a new contract, with the club's owner ready to offer the 25-year-old £100,000 a week.
But even that might not be enough to keep him at the club.

Despite Mahrez allegedly saying he wants to go to Arsenal, there is - as yet - no agreement between Leicester and the Gunners.
Mahrez scored 17 goals in Leicester's memorable title winning season.
But manager Claudio Ranieri has already seen one of his stars N'Golo Kante leave the club for Chelsea.
Top scorer Jamie Vardy rejected Arsenal and signed a new contract at Leicester but that might not stop Mahrez leaving the King Power.

MEETING: Mahrez and his agent met with Arsene Wenger

Ranieri admitted at the weekend Mahrez has been distracted by the rumours linking him with a move to Arsenal.
Wenger and assistant manager Steve Bould were present at Leicester's pre-season game against PSG.
Wenger was coy as always when asked whether he was interested in Mahrez but Leicester officials were frustrated to see him and his No.2 at the game.

DONE DEAL: Man City confirm £37m Leroy Sane transfer, star signs five-year contract

MANCHESTER CITY have completed their deal for Germany international Leroy Sane.

By Marc Williams                    

The 20-year-old has signed a five-year contract at the Etihad and will wear the No.19 jersey.
He becomes City’s fifth signing of the current transfer window and is their most expensive new star with Starsport understanding the club have paid Schalke £37m for his talents.
Sane said: "I feel really good, I’m happy to be here and happy that it has all worked out. Now I can settle here in Manchester and play for City.
"One of the reasons I decided to join City was Pep Guardiola, he convinced me to come here and that I can continue to progress.
“I know I will learn a lot under him and now I can take the next step in my career.
“I followed Pep at Barcelona and at Bayern where he achieved a lot and worked really well with young players.
“I think he can make me a more complete player. I think I will need a bit of time to start with because it’s another league and there’s a different style of play but I think I can adapt very quickly.”
Sane has four caps for Germany to his name already and featured for them at Euro 2016.
The versatile midfielder is regarded as one of the most talented youngster in the game and scored nine goals in 42 appearances for Schalke last term.

DONE DEAL: Leroy Sane has joined Manchester City

City boss Pep Guardiola said: “He is a special talent, and an exciting player that I think our supporters will enjoy watching.
“He has great technical ability, is comfortable on the ball and there is much to admire about the way he plays football.
“He is fast, enjoys creating chances for others, works hard for the team and scores goals, too. He also has a very positive attitude and will fit in well with our squad.
“At 20, he is still developing as a player but he is already a member of the German national side and I think he will be a fantastic asset to our club. We are very happy he decided to join us.”