Gossip: Lemar in, £16m Ozil out; Shaw’s shock PL suitor

Matt Stead

ARSENAL BACK FOR LEMAR
It will surprise nobody that Arsenal are expected to compete for the signature of Thomas Lemar once again this January. The Gunners bid £90million last summer, but the move was rejected by the player himself, will Monaco falling over themselves in shock at the valuation.

The Mail on Sunday explains that a winter offer would be ‘well below the £90million they offered in August’, but should still entice the French side. Lemar, after all, is out of form, and Monaco are out of the Champions League.

There is also the fact that Arsenal are bidding with their money, and are not helped by the £60m which would have funded a summer move. But that does not mean they will receive no outside help.

Rob Draper adds that Barcelona are so interested in signing Mesut Ozil that although they could open negotiations to sign him for free in the summer, Barca ‘may accelerate the process’ by bidding £16m in January. Arsenal are ‘contemplating’ the potential cut-price sales of both Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, having presumably only just realised they could leave for free in a few months.

 

SHAW THING
With Shaw’s Manc redemption even further away, Luke will surely be considering his options. After a few stints as an unused substitute in the Premier and Champions League in recent weeks, the left-back returned to his usual role against Brighton: out of the matchday squad.

A raft of clubs have been linked with the England international, ranging from Arsenal to Liverpool, and even former club Southampton. But a surprise new suitor has emerged in Newcastle.

The Sunday Mirror reports that Rafael Benitez thinks Shaw ‘can reignite his floundering career’ at St James’ Park. What’s more, Jose Mourinho is thought to be ‘open’ to loaning the player out to a fellow Premier League club.

Shaw will appeal to Newcastle as a loan fee would be minimal, but they would face competition from Tottenham. Mauricio Pochettino still has a soft spot for his old left-back.

 

AND THE REST
Paris St-Germain are the favourites to sign 28-year-old Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez. The French club want him to replace their Brazil forward Neymar, 25, who is likely to leave for Real Madrid next season… Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil is set to open talks with Barcelona, although Manchester United are also keen to sign the 29-year-old… Chelsea are considering an approach for Stoke’s 24-year-old goalkeeper Jack Butland, as contract talks with keeper Thibaut Courtois, 25, have stalled… Stoke are planning to make a £2.5m bid for Augsburg’s 27-year-old Ghana right-back Daniel Opare… Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane suggested he is planning to add to his squad in the next transfer window, but says that no players will leave… Napoli forward Dries Mertens, 30, says Barcelona were interested in signing him earlier this year, but he turned the move down.