Arsenal round-up: PSG midfielder could be available; Mahrez wants move; centre-back target missed

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Arsenal and Manchester United have been given fresh hope of signing Paris Saint Germain midfielder Blaise Matuidi.

The Mirror report that the Frenchman’s contract talks with the Ligue 1 club have stalled and he has only one year left on his current deal. There had previously been an agreement, but a change in the boardroom has meant that it no longer stands. The player’s father, Faria, has stated that his son will explore all options open to him, including a possible move to the Premier League. He told La Parisien:

“A few weeks ago, Blaise was more interested in staying at PSG. Now the situation is much more mixed. PSG, and in particular their new sporting director [Antero Henrique], have been slow to reveal their intentions.

“For that reason we’re listening attentively to the advances of other clubs.”

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There would be a lot of clubs interested in the midfielder, but Arsene Wenger is a known admirer and this could be a deal that Arsenal could get involved in. The fact they won’t be in the Champions League may hinder them, but it would represent a great deal for the club and they should try to pursue it.

La Buteur report that Riyad Mahrez would prefer a move to Arsenal, over Liverpool or Chelsea. The Leicester attacker is set to leave the Foxes this summer, despite agreeing on a new contract this time last year. He has a preference to work with Arsene Wenger, while the winger believes that he will be given more first-team opportunities at the Emirates Stadium.

This seems to be a saga that could run for the entire summer, as Arsenal have yet to make a concrete move for the Algerian. Although he had an underwhelming last season, he does possess a lot of talent and he has the potential to be an excellent player at a higher level.

If the price is fair, he would be a good signing for the Gunners. It is also encouraging that the lack of Champions League football isn’t putting Mahrez off, as it shows that Arsenal remain attractive to potential targets.

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Meanwhile, Kostas Manolas is on the verge of completing a big-money move to join Zenit, which is a blow to both Chelsea and Arsenal. The Sun report that the two London clubs had been keeping tabs on the Greek international after three impressive seasons in Serie A with Roma. However, he is now closing in on a switch to Russia, which means that the Gunners will have to look elsewhere.

This report is questionable, as it is doubtful that Arsenal are even trying to sign a centre-back this summer. It may be true that Manolas is a player that they like, but it isn’t as big of a blow as the story is making out. There are other positions that are a greater priority for the Gunners, such as attack and central midfield. They are well stocked at centre-back, therefore they won’t regret not making a move for the 26-year-old.

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