Gossip: Arsenal to swap Giroud for Higuain

GIROUD NONSENSE
As much as times change and football moves on, we can all rest comfortably in the knowledge that somewhere, somehow, someway, Arsenal are being linked to Gonzalo Higuain. Ah, sheer bliss.

The two have been reportedly flirting for years now, and the website of Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio brings us some fresh insight: Arsenal want to ‘lower the price of negotiations’ by offering Olivier Giroud in part-exchange.

First things first: No. Not just because part-exchanges or player exchanges very rarely happen in football; not just because the Gunners are unlikely to sell Giroud, never mind use him as a makeweight in another deal; not just because four different parties would have to be appeased. A combination of all the aforementioned factors make it incredibly unlikely.

But still, let’s hear Di Marzio out. The story adds that Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri was impressed with Giroud’s performance in the Euro 2016 final for France. Strange bloke. But Higuain has another offer on the table. Those striker hoarders over at the Chinese Super League have offered him €50m to join their revolution. It is an offer the Argentinean rejected out of hand. But a part-exchange deal with Giroud is equally unfathomable.

 

OXFORD DEGREERemember when Reece Oxford was a thing? When he completely nullified Mesut Ozil on his Premier League debut, then did his exams a week after? Well he’s back, and with a bang.

According to the Daily Mirror, Manchester United are ‘stepping up’ their interest in the West Ham teenager. Jose Mourinho has sent scouts to watch the centre-half/defensive midfielder for England’s youth sides recently, and the club ‘are long time admirers’. They have ‘already made strong enquiries’.

Oxford has two years remaining on his deal with the Hammers, who rejected a £10m offer from Red Bull Salzburg recently. United are obviously more keen to pursue the signature of Paul Pogba, but the player six years his junior could yet arrive at Old Trafford.

 

ARDA, BETTER, FASTER, STRONGEROver to Spain now, where Arda Turan is ‘seemingly edging closer to the exit door’ at Barcelona.

That is the claim from Spanish newspaper Sport, who reveal Premier League interest in the winger. ‘The latest club to enquire about Arda’s services is Chelsea’, they claim.

The Blues came close to signing the Turk before he swapped Atletico Madrid for the Nou Camp a year ago. The 29-year-old is keen to remain in Spain, but the lack of first-team opportunities with Barca could force him out.

As well as Chelsea, Arsenal, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce are interested.

 

AND THE RESTChelsea are being linked with moves for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Mario and Lazio winger Felipe Anderson – while they’re also tipped to finally launch an official bid for N’Golo Kante…Everton have made an offer of £25.5m for Juventus defender Daniele Rugani, according to reports in Italy…The FA will speak to Hull City boss Steve Bruce about the England manager’s job this week…Sam Allardyce has quit Sunderland’s Austria training camp to fly home for England talks…Allardyce is ready to mentor a successor if he is appointed England manager…Manchester City are hoping for a breakthrough this week in their efforts to sign Leroy Sane…Celtic are weighing up a third bid for Aston Villa winger Scott Sinclair…Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho faces a fresh legal battle over his doping verdict…Midfielders Juan Mata, 28, and Bastian Schweinsteiger, 31, and defenders Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind (both 26) have all been deemed surplus to requirements by new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho…Villarreal have joined Everton in the race to sign United midfielder Mata…Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is targeting Atletico Madrid star Lucas Hernandez…Veteran former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger could make a shock move to Liverpool…Roberto Di Matteo is ready to axe the deadwood from his bloated squad, with Brad Guzan, Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, Leo Bacuna and Gabby Agbonlahor all facing uncertain futures…Colombian forward Marlos Moreno, 19, will sign for Manchester City on a five-year deal, but will then spend next season on loan in La Liga at Deportivo La Coruna…Crystal Palace transfer target Christian Benteke, 25, is not on the brink of leaving Liverpool, according to the striker’s agent.