Gossip: Wenger, Laporte, Perez…

Matt Stead

WENGER SET TO QUIT IN 2017?
Bloody big news emanating from the Daily Mirror, who claim that Arsene Wenger ‘has dropped a big hint’ with regards to his future – namely that he will quit as manager in 2017.

This comes from the Daily Mirror’s reporting of ‘one of the angriest annual general meetings of Wenger’s reign’, in which Arsenal’s spending and disappointments in the Champions League were questioned by fans and shareholders.

You can read a snippet of what was said during the AGM here and, frankly, it doesn’t sound that angry at all. But moving on…

The big line the Mirror take is from Wenger, and you might be wondering what this ‘big hint’ actually is. We’re guessing it’s this:

“I am resolute to commit absolutely until the last day of my contract to bring back big success to this club, and leave as well one day in a position where it can do even better when I leave.

Of course, Wenger’s current contract expires in the summer of 2017, and he’s said the words “until the last day of my contract”, so he’s quitting in the summer of 2017. Forget the possibility of him signing another deal, this is a ‘big hint’.

 

UNITED LOSE OUT ON LAPORTE
From a ‘big hint’ to a ‘big blow’, it’s a big day for the Daily Mirror. They report that Manchester United have lost out on the signing of central defender Aymeric Laporte.

Laporte, a highly-rated centre-half for Athletic Bilbao, has reportedly agreed to join Barcelona in a deal worth around £35million, which shows just how highly-rated he actually is.

The 21-year-old, much like every single central defender in Europe, has been tentatively linked to Old Trafford over the past season or so, but when Barcelona come calling there’s only one potential destination. On to the next target then…

 

PEREZ A WANTED MAN
He may not be a central defender, but that next target could be Ayoze Perez of Newcastle. According to the Newcastle Chronicle, United and Tottenham are ready to battle it out for the striker.

Spurs are known to be interested in the forward, and the man himself even admitted the North Londoners had a bid – believed to be around £15million – rejected by the Magpies on deadline day.

The Newcastle Chronicle claim the source of United’s interest is former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who is a huge fan of the Spaniard. This leads to perhaps the greatest ‘we understand’ of all time, which goes as follows:

Ferguson is believed to have spoken about his admiration for Perez’s quick feet.

Newcastle Chronicle sources understand that Sir Alex Ferguson has discussed his fondness for Ayoze Perez’s feet. Grand.

 

AND THE REST
Watford striker Odion Ighalo will not be sold to a bigger club in the January transfer window despite his good start to the season, says boss Quique Sanchez Flores…Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood’s future at the club is in doubt after he angered club owner Randy Lerner by criticising Villa’s transfer business in the summer…Newcastle will not make an emergency goalkeeper signing until January despite losing Tim Krul, 27, to injury until the end of the season.