Gossip: Bellerin out, Denayer in at Arsenal

Daniel Storey

MANCHESTER CITY KEEN ON BELLERIN, AND HIM ON THEM
We’re starting in Spain now, and news that will make Arsenal supporters wince. Mundo Deportivo claims that Manchester City and Barcelona are both interested in Hector Bellerin, and that the defender is enjoying the attention.

“He is happy at Arsenal,” someone close to Bellerin is quoted as saying by the Spanish paper. “But the option of City exists, it pleases him and what’s more, Pep [Guardiola] is there.”

To be honest, this all sounds far too vague to get us excited. Arsenal are in the process of trying to tie Bellerin down to a new contract; do that and the transfer fee would be massive. There’s really very little chance of him leaving before next summer.

 

JOAO MARIO GOING NOWHERE
Chelsea and Manchester United have both been mentioned in passing regarding Joao Mario, the Sporting CP midfielder who won the European Championship with Portugal and who we like very much. For their part, The Sun reported last week that ‘Chelsea transfer target Joao Mario joins Inter Milan’.

The Sun might have got a little ahead of themselves there, given that five days later Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho says that his midfielder is going nowhere.

“Of course there are some players that people want, but nothing has changed compared to what I said in several occasions,” he told O Jogo.

“Sporting CP is not a club that intends to sell. We have a well-defined project. We’re hoping everyone will be available for the Coach to start his training in one week.

“For our own part, nothing has changed, we knew these were great players and now the other clubs have figured it out too. This is something that makes us proud, not worried.”

Someone ask The Sun when that Inter unveiling is taking place, while we cry that Joao Mario isn’t coming to England.

 

ARSENAL WANT DENAYER AND GINTER
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is chasing Manchester City’s Jason Denayer and Borussia Dortmund’s Matthias Ginter, according to The Sun.

Wenger is looking for a young, versatile defender who can fill into any gap across the back four and will make a move for both players with the aim of signing one.

Arsene Wenger believes he can tempt Denayer from City as Pep Guardiola pursues a £38million move for Juventus and Italy star Leonardo Bonucci. The 21-year-old is thought to be keen on a switch away from the Etihad in search of first-team football.

Ginter, meanwhile, has long been admired by Wenger, who has been scouting him since he was a youngster at Freiburg. The German World Cup winner can play in central defence or as a full-back and is seen as a long-term replacement for Per Mertesacker at Arsenal. The 22-year-old is believed to be up for sale at Dortmund and has been linked with a switch to Wolfsburg.

 

 

AND THE REST
Everton boss Ronald Koeman is targeting an ambitious move for £30m Portugal midfielder William Carvalho… Diego Costa, 27, has not asked to leave Chelsea and the striker is expected to stay at Stamford Bridge this summer… Middlesbrough are on the brink of sealing the loan signing of Alvaro Negredo… Tottenham are considering allowing Clinton N’Jie to leave White Hart Lane on loan as they finalise a deal to sign Georges-Kevin N’Koudou from Marseille… Winger Nathan Dyer, 28, insists he wants to stay at Swansea City despite winning the Premier League while on loan at Leicester City last season… Manchester United have asked to be kept informed of developments over Monaco right-back Fabinho… Crystal Palace are closing in on a shock swoop for Saido Berahino… Brazilian side Fluminense have confirmed the signing of Wellington Silva from Arsenal… Celtic are stepping up their interest in Blackburn Rovers defender Shane Duffy with winger James Forrest linked with a move in the other direction… Rangers remain on course to sign forward Joe Dodoo but manager Mark Warburton admits he is now unlikely to feature against Annan.