7.45am Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Rekik CONFIRMED, Ozil interest, Sabitzer UPDATE, Lacazette contract talks
ARSENAL return to action this weekend against Newcastle in the FA Cup.
Mesut Ozil's future is the big talking point at the Emirates, while we've the very latest on Marcel Sabitzer and Alexandre Lacazette.
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Follow all the latest from the Emirates below…
- Jack Figg
MORNING ARSENAL FANS
Arsenal bid to turn their Premier League revival into an FA Cup run begins at home to Newcastle on Saturday evening.
And the future of ex-Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil could be decided by the time of the fourth-round draw on January 11.
With fit-again Thomas Partey tipped to return in mid-pitch for the Gunners, Fenerbahce boss Erol Bulut says playmaker Ozil's fate will "become clear" within days.
Arsenal outcast Ozil has reportedly already agreed a three-and-half-year deal with the Turkish giants.
Meanwhile, regular Arsenal target Wilfried Zaha claims they snubbed him in favour of 72million club-record buy Nicolas Pepe in 2019.
Crystal Palace frontman and boyhood Gooner Zaha says he told then-Arsenal boss Unai Emery he’d “love to join”.
And while the Ivory Coast superstar has bounced back to superb form this season, Pepe is still struggling to recapture his Lille form.
In fact, Chelsea flop Loic Remy has warned Pepe he must graft hard every day or risk flopping in the Prem.
- Ian Tuckey
HEN HEARTY AFTER NEW DEAL
Ex-Arsenal and Manchester United wideman Henrikh Mkhitaryan has reportedly extended his Roma deal until June 2022.
The Armenia skipper, 31, had four disappointing years in the Premier League before joining Serie A side Roma permanently in the summer.
- Ian Tuckey
OZIL FUTURE 'CLEAR SOON'
Mesut Ozil’s future will ‘become clear’ in the next few days, according to Fenerbahce boss Erol Bulut.
The Arsenal outcast has reportedly signed a three-and-half year deal to join the Turkish giants.
Bulut was asked about the transfer following his side’s 2-1 win over Alanyaspor on Thursday.
The Fenerbahce coach confirmed Ozil’s next move will be decided in a matter of days.
He told Bein Sports: “Mesut Ozil’s situation will become clear in the coming days.
“Mesut’s name is very common. It is not possible for me to make a comment before he comes.”
- Ian Tuckey
ELNENY SERT FOR PARTEY LINK-UP
Mikel Arteta is expected to rotate his Arsenal squad for Saturday evening's FA Cup tie at home to Newcastle.
Thomas Partey could make his long-awaited return to the starting line-up on Saturday.
He has not played since he injured his thigh during the defeat to Spurs on December 6.
But the £45million summer signing from Atletico Madrid is now back in full training.
Arsenal confirmed on their website that Partey will be assessed ahead of the match.
Should he start, the 27-year-old could link up with Mohamed Elneny in the middle.
Dani Ceballos and Granit Xhaka are expected to be rested for the third-round clash.
- Ian Tuckey
BUK TO THE FUTURE
At least there's one Arsenal player who's been consistent all season…
And Bukayo Saka's exciting form out wide has won him the Gunners' player-of-the-month award for December.
The 19-year-old has also won all his four England caps since October.
- Ian Tuckey
OLI GOOD VALUE
Olivier Giroud’s Chelsea future seems in the balance – with Juventus, Inter Milan and West Ham all mentioned over a possible switch this month.
Yet the French World Cup winner and ex-Arsenal striker, 34, has usually impressed when given the chance in his two years at the Bridge – as these stats suggest.
- Ian Tuckey
MBAP ON THE MENU
Real Madrid are targeting transfers for Kylian Mbappe, Eduardo Camavinga and David Alaba, according to reports.
And the Spanish giants also want to tie three first-team stars down to new contracts in what would be a bumper 2021.
Credit: Reuters According to AS, Los Blancos hope to make a move for the Paris Saint-Germain forward in the summer – although they may face competition from Liverpool.
Real were desperate for Mbappe, 22, to refrain from signing a new contract at the Ligue 1 champions – and so far he has not put pen to paper.
That means by the end of this season, he will have just 12 months remaining on his deal.
His price tag remains unclear and new boss Mauricio Pochettino will be determined to keep one of the world’s best players in his squad.
But the LaLiga title holders have made their desire no secret and want to line Mbappe, Eden Hazard and Erling Haaland – a 2022 target to coincide with Karim Benzema’s contract expiry – up front together.
Zinedine Zidane is also keen on Camavinga, the highly-rated 18-year-old Rennes midfielder who already has three senior French caps.
- Ian Tuckey
ZAHA: GUNNERS CHOSE PEPE OVER ME
Wilfried Zaha says Arsenal snubbed him for club-record signing Nicolas Pepe.
Crystal Palace frontman and boyhood Gooner Zaha claims he told then-Arsenal boss Unai Emery he'd "love to join".
Wilfried Zaha says he told Arsenal he would love to have joined themCredit: Getty Images – Getty But Emery opted for Zaha's Ivory Coast team-mate Pepe, who has struggled to adjust to the Premier League while Zaha shines for the Eagles.
Zaha told Jamie Carragher’s The Greatest Game Podcast: “I had a conversation with the manager.
“Emery was just like, ‘we don’t really need to go through much’. He said he’d seen me play, he knows I can change games at any time and stuff like that.
“He was like, ‘yeah we’d love to have you’ and I was just like, ‘yeah I’d love to come’.
“The conversation was rather straightforward because I played against him when he was manager of Arsenal. He saw what I could do, saw my work-rate, and what I could add to the team.
“Obviously, it was up to the club who they chose – and they chose Pepe over me.”
- Ian Tuckey
PREM GIANTS QUEUE UP FOR MILIK
Arkadiusz Milik is being chased by the ‘best Premier League clubs’, his agent claims.
The Napoli striker is at loggerheads with his current club, with his contract set to expire in the summer.
He hasn’t made a single appearance all season, after being left off Gennaro Gattuso’s squad lists.
But out of sight hasn’t meant out of mind for some of Europe’s top clubs.
Agent Fabrizio De Vecchi explained: “The best clubs in the Premier League, Atletico and Marseille are interested in Arek. Of course, no team offers what Napoli asks for.”
As for last summer, he continued: “Roma and Juve were also close to signing him, but for different reasons, and in some cases still difficult to understand, the negotiation did not work out.
“But this often happens in football. If they come back to him? I don’t rule it out, but I can’t be the one to say it.”
- Ian Tuckey
NEVER STOP OR YOU'LL FLOP, PEPE
Chelsea flop Loic Remy has warned Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe not to waste his career.
Remy insists big-club players "cannot have one day of being lazy".
Nicolas Pepe, shown training with Arsenal team-mate David Luiz today, has been toldto work hard or risk fading away Remy played alongside Pepe at Lille and has urged the winger to avoid wasting his talent at Arsenal.
Remy told Goal: "He was flying in Lille and he was the best player in the team. Then, when you get to the next step, the expectation is really high. You cannot have one day of being lazy or late. The intensity in big clubs is like that.
"You can’t complain and there’s not much time to adapt. You can't get away with mistakes anymore like you can at smaller clubs. There are always players waiting on the bench to take your spot.
"They will be training their hardest to replace you and that’s the biggest difference between big clubs and a smaller club.
"For him, the whole team are having a difficult season. Arsenal is Arsenal, so I think they will get back to having good results even if there are no easy games in the Premier League."
- Ian Tuckey
DON'T MES WITH THE PAST
Mesut Ozil's Arsenal career has hit a seven-year hitch – but as the playmaker's exit looms his past extreme highs deserve to be remembered.
One fan on social media noted that the ex-Germany midfielder, 32, is the last-remaining Gunner from their 3-2 FA Cup final win over Hull in 2014,-the year after Ozil joined from Real Madrid.
And when you run down the whole line-up it's a fascinating example of how fortunes can differ and divert so quickly.
None more so, of course, than for Arsenal's skipper on that day… Mikel Arteta.
ARSENAL LINE-UP VS HULL:
Łukasz Fabiański, Bacary Sagna, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs, Mikel Arteta (c), Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla, Mesut Özil, Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud.
- Ian Tuckey
MESUT D-DAY SOON
Mesut Ozil’s future will ‘become clear’ in the next few days, according to Fenerbahce boss Erol Bulut.
The Arsenal outcast has reportedly signed a three-and-half year deal to join the Turkish giants.
Bulut was asked about the transfer following his side’s 2-1 win over Alanyaspor on Thursday.
The Fenerbahce coach confirmed Ozil’s next move will be decided in a matter of days.
He told Bein Sports: “Mesut Ozil’s situation will become clear in the coming days.
“Mesut’s name is very common. It is not possible for me to make a comment before he comes.”
- Josh Graham
PREM COVID CLAMPDOWN
Premier League bosses laid down the Covid law for the first time since the summer when the protocols were agreed with the Government and scientific experts – and warned there will be sanctions if players continue to hug, shake hands or swap shirts.
Those regulations demand players wear masks at ALL times on match-day other than when they are playing, engaged in warm-up sessions and giving socially-distanced post-match interviews.
Clubs must now ensure they follow instructions to transport first team players and staff to matches in three separate coaches.
In addition, all external staff working for travel services or in hotels used for stays must have returned negative Covid tests, while each club must submit a risk-assessed travel plan to the League for every game.
Amid suggestions that too many hangers-on have been accessing grounds on match days, clubs have again been ordered to ensure they each have a maximum of 10 representatives in directors’ boxes.
At training ground, indoor meetings will be banned unless they are fully socially-distanced, with canteens banned other than on matchdays the previous day.
And clinical passports will be required by players and staff at training ground, with Prem-appointed compliance officers having the right to ask for spot-checks of credentials.
- Josh Graham
PARTEY TIME
Mikel Arteta is expected to rotate his squad for the FA Cup clash against Newcastle.
Thomas Partey, 27, could make his long-awaited return to the starting line-up on Saturday.
Here's one way the Gunners could start He has not played since he injured his thigh during the defeat to Spurs on December 6.
But the £45million summer signing from Atletico Madrid is now back in full training.
Arsenal confirmed on their website that Partey will be assessed ahead of the match.
Should he start, the 27-year-old could link up with Mohamed Elneny in the middle.
Dani Ceballos and Granit Xhaka are expected to be rested for the third round tie.
- Josh Graham
'MORALLY WRONG'
Arsenal host Newcastle tomorrow in the third round of the FA Cup but Toon boss Steve Bruce believes it is 'morally wrong' for football to continue at this stage of the pandemic.
The Magpies were the first club to see a Covid-19 outbreak rip through their ranks as the training ground was shut for ten days and Aston Villa are the latest with the entire first-team squad in self-isolation.
Bruce said: "Financially it is right to play, but morally it is wrong. I’m no doctor but there are so many symptoms. Even after it’s left you it can cause big problems.
“I see other clubs are struggling with it as well. The whole country is, and we are no different to anyone else. There are wonderful protocols put in place but when we leave the training ground you have to go to the big outside world.
“We are the lucky ones, providing entertainment that people can tune into and watch. But will come a stage though when we have to make a decision.
“Let’s be fair, when you are going into football you are socialising.Two or three weeks ago we didn't think we would be like we are today having record numbers and record deaths – and we are carrying on.
“There will come a time when I’m sure the big question will be asked.Even though all the protocols have been fantastic, we are not immune to this disease because we are footballers.”
- Josh Graham
BUK'D THE TREND
Bukayo Saka was named Arsenal's player of the month for December.
The English youngster helped arrest the Gunners' slump that left them teetering above the relegation zone.
And his goal against Chelsea even bagged the goal of the month award.
He is also nominated for the PFA Fans' Player of the Month.
- Josh Graham
MES AMIS
Mesut Ozil will play alongside some familiar faces if and when he joins Fenerbahce.
The German World Cup winner is close to ending his Arsenal turmoil and agreeing a deal with the Turkish side.
Although he'll have to dust the cobwebs off his boots, Ozil will be sure to receive a warm welcome at Fenerbahce by former Premier League players.
Former Newcastle ace Papiss Cisse currently leads the line alongside Aston Villa loanee Mbwana Samatta.
In midfield, 31-year-old Enner Valencia occupies the right flank. The Ecuadorian was formerly of Everton and West Ham before he left London for Mexican side Tigres in 2017.
On the opposite side is former Roma ace Diego Perotti who has a Europa League and Copa del Rey to his name from his time at Sevilla.
And Brazilian veteran Luiz Gustavo, who used to play for Bayern Munich, bosses the midfield.
- Josh Graham
SOL REGRET
Arsene Wenger has admitted he regrets bringing Tottenham defender Sol Campbell to Arsenal.
The former England international made a highly controversial move on a free transfer across London in 2001.
Arsene Wenger said he might not sign Sol Campbell if he had to do things againCredit: AFP Former Gunners boss Wenger told 11 Freunde: "I knew that it would cause heated debates in London, but I was truly convinced by the player.
"I thought he was capable of facing the adversity. For me, it was easy because everybody was conscious that I had signed a great player. But for him, it was more complicated.
"The situation was really stressful for Sol and he told me afterwards how severe it became.
"He couldn't go to certain places for dinner or walk freely in London because of the anger of the Tottenham fans.
"In hindsight, I'm not sure if I would sign him again bearing in mind the difficulties he faced."
- Josh Graham
MATT'S YOUR LOT
Arsenal have confirmed the departure of keeper Matt Macey.
Macey has joined Scottish side Hibernian after over seven years in North London.
The 26-year-old joined from Bristol Rovers in 2013 and made two first-team appearances.
He has regularly featured in matchday squads over the past two seasons – even picking up a winners' medal from the FA Cup final last season following Bernd Leno's injury.
- Josh Graham
WIZARD OF OZ
Mesut Ozil's future will 'become clear' in the next few days, according to Fenerbahce boss Erol Bulut.
The Arsenal outcast has reportedly signed a three-and-half year deal to join the Turkish giants.
Bulut was asked about the transfer following his side's 2-1 win over Alanyaspor on Thursday.
The Fenerbahce coach confirmed Ozil's next move will be decided in a matter of days.
He told Bein Sports: "Mesut Ozil's situation will become clear in the coming days.
"Mesut's name is very common. It is not possible for me to make a comment before he comes."
- Josh Graham
SEIZE THE DIA
Arsenal target Boulaye Dia is in talks with London rivals West Ham.
The Senegalese striker who plays for Stade Riems is the latest name on Irons boss David Moyes’ shopping list to beef up his frontline.
Moyes has offloaded Haller to Dutch side Ajax for around £25million after finally losing patience.
Dia, 24, has scored ten goals in France’s Ligue 1 already this season and is available for around £14m plus add ons.
He was previously linked with the Gunners by French outlet Le 10 Sport.
- Josh Graham
SHOW GOES ON
Mesut Ozil's wife Amine Gulse has reportedly been offered a TV role in order to lure her Arsenal outcast husband to Fenerbahce.
Ozil appears to finally be sorting out his future after sitting on the sidelines under Mikel Arteta.
And Football London reports the couple's friend and Turkish TV personality Acun Ilicali is offering to part fund Ozil's salary and assure Gulse of a programme on a 'new digital platform'.
Ozil has been heavily linked with a move to the city of Istanbul amid reports he will wear the No67.
Mesut Ozil and wife Amine GulseCredit: Refer to Caption - Josh Graham
YOU'RE NIC'D
Arsenal chose club-record signing Nicolas Pepe over Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha.
Eagles forward and boyhood Gooner Zaha claimed the Gunners picked his Ivory Coast team-mate over him following talks with Unai Emery.
Arsenal turned down the chance to sign Wilfried ZahaCredit: Getty Images – Getty Zaba told Jamie Carragher's The Greatest Game Podcast: "I had a conversation with the manager.
“Emery was just like, ‘we don’t really need to go through much’. He said he’d seen me play, he knows I can change games at any time and stuff like that.
"He was like, ‘yeah we’d love to have you’ and I was just like, ‘yeah I’d love to come’.
"The conversation was rather straightforward because I played against him when he was manager of Arsenal. He saw what I could do, saw my work-rate, and what I could add to the team.
“Obviously, it was up to the club who they chose – and they chose Pepe over me.”
- Josh Graham
WATCH OUT FOR EM
Arsenal youngster Emile Smith Rowe has earned a new nickname from his Gunners team-mates after some inspired performances.
Smith Rowe has even received praise from exiled Mesut Ozil as he showcases his ability in midfield.
And Arsenal pals have started calling him 'Kev' in reference to Kevin De Bruyne – one of Smith Rowe's idols.
Also known as the 'Croydon De Bruyne', Kieran Tierney was overheard using his new nickname in a training video.
And Bukayo Saka wrote 'Kev' on Instagram and cheeky Reiss Nelson tagged De Bruyne in one of Smith Rowe's posts.
- Josh Graham
GIFT OF THE GAB
Rio Ferdinand believes Gabriel Martinelli is the best Arsenal youngster coming through under Mikel Arteta.
The Manchester United legend and pundit backed the Brazilian forward.
Speaking on his YouTube channel FIVE, Ferdinand said: "I think Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, they’ve been outstanding.
"Willock at times has come in and done stuff, same for Maitland-Niles.
“Without these young players coming in and holding the fort, with all that’s going on, I don’t know where Arsenal would be and the fans would be in the doldrums. Martinelli, for me, is the best one.”
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