^ ^ England already have major World Cup injury worry over Arsenal star

Thomas Tuchel has outlined concerns over the fitness of Bukayo Saka (Credits: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)

Thomas Tuchel says England have to be careful with Bukayo Saka ahead of the World Cup as the Arsenal winger continues to build his way back from an Achilles issue.

The 24-year-old linked up with the national team in Florida on Saturday along with team-mates Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze after the quartet were given time off after the Champions League final.

Saka began the shootout loss to Paris St Germain but has only started five matches for Premier League winners Arsenal since withdrawing from England’s March meet-up with an Achilles injury.

The forward’s fitness is a consideration for Tuchel, whose side face Costa Rica in a warm-up friendly in Orlando on Wednesday before taking on Miami FC the following day behind closed doors.

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‘We still have to take care a little bit about Bukayo, who had an injury in the March camp and carried it through, of course, into his club campaign,’ Tuchel said.

‘He was available and made himself available in the end of the season, and did this brilliantly, but he was managed in between matches and that continues a little bit at the very moment, so we’re building him up.

‘Noni is 100 per cent available, Declan is 100 per cent available and Ebs as well.’

Bukayo Saka has linked up with his England teammates following his Arsenal Champions League final exploits (Picture: Getty)

Tuchel confirmed Saka has yet to do ‘consecutive training’ sessions since joining up with England and vowed to manage him sensibly.

‘They decided together, Bukayo and Arsenal, to let him play through his pain and discomfort, even if it was not possible to train the whole week in the build ups,’ the German coach said.

‘He was decisive in the second leg against Atletico to bring them to the final, he played the final. But like I said, he was managed in between, and this is what we do.

‘The player and his needs and health are always first, so what we are doing now, we were monitoring on his week off and now we are bringing him back on the pitch.

Declan Rice has been declared 100 per cent fit by Thomas Tuchel (Picture: Getty)

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‘Yesterday, he was not with us, today he was and did the full training session. He is available for tomorrow, but he needs management to be fully, fully 100 per cent, which he is not. But he is on a high level.’

Tuchel confirmed Rice as England’s vice-captain over the weekend and says the Arsenal players are in a ‘very good spirit’ and ‘very good shape’ after the painful Champions League final defeat to PSG.

‘I feel them proud, I feel them confident,’ the manager said. ‘They know what they did, they know what it took them to win the title in England.

‘They had this little period where suddenly it was in doubt and they overcame it and managed to win the title.

‘It meant a lot to them and I think they have a clear understanding that they go toe to toe the best team in the world at the moment with Paris, and they had them, and they just lost in a penalty shootout. They came in best spirits and I’m happy for that.’

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^ ^ Kai Havertz gives brutal response to fan asking him to leave Arsenal and rejoin Chelsea

Kai Havertz is likely to form a key part of Germany’s World Cup plans (Picture: X)

Kai Havertz crushed the dreams of one young Chelsea fan after he was asked to consider rejoining his former club from Arsenal this summer.

Eyebrows were raised when Mikel Arteta chose to invest so heavily in a player who never quite lived up to his billing during three tumultuous years at Stamford Bridge.

While it is true to say the course of his Arsenal career hasn’t always run smoothly, the versatile Germany international has established himself as one of Arteta’s most trusted players.

Having struggled to adapt to the midfield role he was initially earmarked for upon his arrival at Arsenal, Havertz has proven his worth in his more natural centre forward role.

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The arrival of Viktor Gyokeres last summer threatened to push Havertz down the pecking order and a succession of injuries meant he was unable to make an impact until the second half of the campaign.

Although Gyokeres ended his first season in north London as Arsenal’s top goalscorer, it was Havertz who remained Arteta’s go-to striker for the big occasion.

Goals in the win over Burnley which effectively helped seal the title and his stunning strike in the Champions League final, albeit in a losing cause, underlined his importance to the Gunners’ machine.

Kai Havertz and Germany begin their World Cup campaign against Curacao on Sunday (Credits: Reuters)

Chelsea, meanwhile, are a shadow of the side that Havertz left in the summer of 2023 and are about to embark on life under a fourth permanent manager since his departure in the shape of Xabi Alonso.

Adding a new striker to the ranks is likely to be a priority for the former Liverpool midfielder with Joao Pedro having been targeted by Barcelona and Liam Delap likely to be deemed surplus to requirements after failing to make the grade following his move from Ipswich.

A return to Stamford Bridge for Havertz is, of course, out of the question but it didn’t stop one young fan making an ambitious request as the Arsenal star signed autographs at Germany’s World Cup training base.

‘You wish, you wish,’ said Havertz when asked if he would consider leaving Arteta’s Arsenal to be part of Alonso’s rebuilding project.

American fan: “Kai Havertz go back to Chelsea!”

Kai Havertz “You wish, you wish.” 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/81puGoLL0m

— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) June 9, 2026

Despite his standing at Arsenal, it would be no surprise to see the English champions invest in their forward line again during the transfer window and provide Havertz with fresh competition.

Julian Alvarez has been heavily linked with a return to the Premier League but the Atletico Madrid forward was the subject of a bid from Real Madrid on Tuesday.

The Argentina international, 26, has scored 49 goals in 106 appearances for Atletico since joining from Manchester City in 2024.

Alvarez, whose contract runs until 2030, reportedly wants to leave Diego Simeone’s side this summer and has been linked with Arsenal and Barcelona.

Speaking before he was re-elected Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez vowed to submit a club-record offer for an unnamed ‘great player’ this week.

Real Madrid have submitted a club-record offer to sign Julian Alvarez (NurPhoto via Getty)

A statement released by Real on Tuesday read: ‘Real Madrid CF announces that, following the meeting of the board of directors held today, it has made an offer of 150 million euros to Club Atletico de Madrid for the federative rights of the player Julian Alvarez.

‘After reviewing and evaluating the offer, Club Atletico de Madrid has expressed its gratitude for the proposal, made within the framework of the good relations between both clubs, and has rejected it, referring to the player’s release clause.’

Alvarez, who is preparing for Argentina’s World Cup defence, registered 20 goals in 49 matches for Atletico this season, with 10 coming in the Champions League.

Atletico Madrid response to Real Madrid’s rejected bid for Julian Alvarez

Atletico later said they were “neither considering nor evaluating any offers” for Alvarez.

A series of posts on the Rojiblancos’ X account began with five laughing emojis in response to Real’s statement.

‘You may have mistaken politeness for gratitude, but just to be clear: we are not thanking you for anything,’ Atletico posted.

‘We are neither considering nor evaluating any offers for Julian. How could we not get along, when you make us laugh even more than @FCBarcelona?’

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^ ^ Arsenal make transfer decision as Jose Mourinho tells Real Madrid to sign £42m star

Jose Mourinho is set to return to Real Madrid (Picture: Getty)

Jose Mourinho has ‘approved’ a move for Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori as he prepares to take over at Real Madrid, according to reports in Spain.

Florentino Perez’s re-election as Real’s club president has cleared the way for Mourinho to make a stunning return to the Bernabeu.

Mourinho signed a three-year contract with Real Madrid last month but the deal would only be activated if Perez retained his role at the top of the club.

During his first spell in charge of Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, Mourinho won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.

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The legendary Portuguese manager leaves his role at Benfica after just one season and replaces Alvaro Arbeloa, who has been in charge of Real Madrid since Xabi Alonso’s departure in January.

Mourinho has already made it clear to his bosses at the Bernabeu that he wants to significantly strengthen his Madrid squad this summer.

As a result Real Madrid are lining up a sensational move for Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise and are keeping tabs on West Ham’s Matheus Fernandes.

Riccardo Calafiori helped Arsenal win the Premier League (Picture: Getty)

Mourinho also wants to bolster his defensive options and has ‘approved’ moves for Arsenal’s Calafiori and Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol.

Spanish outlet AS say Mourinho is particularly keen for one of Calafiori or Gvardiol to join as both have experience playing centre-back as well as on the left.

Arsenal beat London rivals Chelsea to a £42m deal for Calafiori shortly after Euro 2024 and the Italian helped Mikel Arteta’s side win the Premier League and reach the Champions League final last season.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez (Picture: Getty)

Calafiori was Arteta’s first-choice left-back last term, with the 24-year-old keeping Myles Lewis-Skelly out of the team and forcing the England international back into midfield.

Arsenal are aware of interest from Mourinho and Real Madrid but, according to Football London, have ‘no intention’ of selling Calafiori this summer.

The former Bologna star still has three years left on his current contract so Arsenal feel under ‘no pressure’ to sell during the upcoming transfer window.

Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol (Picture: Getty)

Speaking before Arsenal lost the Champions League final to PSG, Calafiori said he had ‘unfinished business’ at boyhood club Roma but was ‘happy’ at Arsenal.

‘I’m happy here now, but I’ve left some unfinished business with Roma,’ he told Italian outlet Corriere della Sera.

‘I barely played for that team when I was very young. I’d like to return. Not right away, but sooner or later.’

If Real Madrid are rebuffed by Arsenal, they may turn their attentions to Gvardiol, who completed a £77m move to Manchester City in 2023.

Mikel Arteta brought Calafiori to Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Mourinho also appreciates the City defender and it is claimed Gvardiol is ‘attracted’ to the idea of moving to the Bernabeu and working under one of the most successful managers of the modern era.

But Real Madrid still reportedly view Calafiori as a more ‘realistic’ option and a cheaper target than Gvardiol.

Madrid’s transfer business will fully ignite once Mourinho officially takes over, which will be imminently following Perez’s re-election.

‘We have won the elections and will continue working to keep winning titles,’ Perez said. ‘I am still here and I am here to defend Real Madrid.

‘We will continue working so that Real Madrid keeps winning titles, and we will fight until the end to achieve the 16th European Cup.

‘We will continue to take pride in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, the best stadium in the world.

‘Proud to have the best players in the world, proud to welcome back one of the best coaches in the world, a Madridista like Jose Mourinho.’

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^ ^ Manchester United board confident of signing £100m star after Ederson transfer

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United executives are ‘optimistic’ they will beat Manchester City to a stunning deal for England midfielder Elliot Anderson, according to reports.

Anderson is currently preparing for the World Cup and is expected to be a key player in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.

The 23-year-old is coming off the back of another superb season for Nottingham Forest in which he helped the club secure their Premier League status and go deep in the Europa League.

Anderson’s form has caught the eye of a number of clubs and Manchester City were believed to be favourites to secure his signature this summer.

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Man City identified Anderson as their top summer target and are lining up a second offer for the Forest star after seeing their initial £80m bid rejected.

Etihad bosses expect to win the race for Anderson but The Guardian say Manchester United are optimistic of hijacking the deal and bringing him to Old Trafford.

It is claimed United believe Anderson is yet to make the final decision over his future and are confident he can still be persuaded to choose the red half of Manchester.

England’s Elliot Anderson is preparing for the World Cup (Picture: Getty)

The Red Devils have made Brazil midfielder Ederson their first signing of the summer in a £35m deal with Italian side Atalanta.

But Michael Carrick, who was appointed as United’s permanent head coach last month, wants at least one more midfielder to arrive through the doors as Casemiro has left and Manuel Ugarte could be sold.

Manchester United have expressed interest in West Ham’s Matheus Fernandes, Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba but Anderson appears to be their top target.

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick (Picture: Getty)

Anderson signed a five-year contract with Nottingham Forest when they spent £35m to sign him from Newcastle United in 2024.

Last week ex-Manchester City defender Micah Richards claimed his former club had the edge over Manchester United in the race to sign Anderson.

In an exclusive interview with Metro, he said: ‘I can’t speak highly enough of Pep and what he achieved but what City have done is build an environment where the top players still want to head to Manchester City regardless of who the manager is.

Incoming Man Utd signing Ederson (Picture: Getty)

‘That’s a compliment to the club. When Pep was there, four titles in a row, the treble, winning the Champions League… yes they had one of the best managers of all-time having a massive say in all that success.

‘However, the infrastructure is there for the players and you would choose Manchester City over anywhere else. And that’s not to disrespect any other club.

‘It’s just other clubs are still finding out where they are going to be. Looking through the squad, Abdukodir Khusanov, Marc Guehi, Rodri, Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland.

Anderson has been a revelation for Nottingham Forest (Picture: Getty)

‘If you are hedging your bets, you want to be playing with that calibre of player where you know even if you don’t win a trophy, you are always going to be challenging for a trophy.

‘And City have built that environment and that is always going to be there and be in a player’s mind. Going to Man United is still a massive draw, Liverpool as well with their history.

‘Everyone has certain things they want when it comes to choosing a club. Some grew up Liverpool fans, some grew up Man United fans. But many will be thinking what is the best possible move for my career.’

Discussing Man City’s interest in Anderson, Richards added: ‘He’s my No. 1 pick. It depends on what the cost is but he can do so many things.

‘He can sit there as a No. 6 but I think his best position is a No. 8. I think he is much more than a water carrier, he’s so good on the ball and he can drive forward.

‘I think he would be absolutely perfect for Man City. His football intelligence is off the scale. I think he’s ready.

‘If he did become available and the rumours are correct, Man City for sure should sign him. There’s no question over him fitting in. He would be perfect for any team in the Premier League.’

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^ ^ Arsenal set new price to sign Eli Junior Kroupi after Chelsea transfer approach

Bournemouth star Eli Junior Kroupi in action against Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal have been set a new price to sign summer transfer target Eli Junior Kroupi after Chelsea and PSG made approaches for the Bournemouth forward.

The Gunners are hoping to bolster Mikel Arteta’s attacking options this summer and have identified Kroupi, 19, as a top target.

Kroupi enjoyed a superb first season in the Premier League following his £10m move from French side Lorient, scoring 13 goals for Bournemouth.

The France U21 star is seen as a perfect addition to an Arsenal squad that lacked creative spark for much of the season despite winning the Premier League and reaching the Champions League final.

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The Gunners appeared to be leading the race to sign Kroupi but it was reported in France last week that PSG and Chelsea were also interested in a summer deal.

It was even claimed that Kroupi favoured a move to back-to-back European champions PSG despite interest from Premier League giants Arsenal and Chelsea.

French outlet Foot Mercato said Bournemouth’s asking price for Kroupi was 100m euros (£86m), with Manchester City, Barcelona and Bayern Munich also said to be considering a move.

Mikel Arteta wants to bolster Arsenal’s attacking options (Picture: Getty)

But according to The i Paper, Bournemouth would in fact demand a fee ‘well in excess’ of £100m to sell Kroupi this summer.

The report says Bournemouth ‘expect’ Kroupi to stay on the south coast for at least one more season unless the player or his representatives start pushing for a move.

Speaking before his departure from Bournemouth and move to Liverpool, Andoni Iraola urged Kroupi to resist the urge to leave this summer.

Andoni Iraola urged Kroupi to stay at Bournemouth (Picture: Getty)

‘I think Junior has been a big challenge for me this season, one of the biggest challenges because we noticed straightaway that he has special things,’ said Iraola.

‘His finishing is top for me. But we had to work a lot with him and, especially, he has had to do a lot of work that he wasn’t used to win his minutes.

‘He has become a much better player for me. I know he had a good start and scored goals but I try not to talk to him about goals because this is something which is natural and he will always have it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DZNlqd6DLQm/?hl=en&img_index=1

‘So, I have tried to make him focus on other parts and he has improved a lot. In the past month, he has allowed us to put out a very offensive line-up because he is giving us the work rate so we can keep it all together and not suffer defensively too much.

‘He’s still very young and has just arrived into the Premier League and it’s his first season. For sure, I think he will play even more minutes next season and will continue evolving.

‘He has a high ceiling but I think this is the best place for him to continue his evolution.’

While the Premier League interest in Kroupi is coming from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, Louis Saha has suggested Manchester United should consider entering the race.

‘Junior Kroupi is a very and exciting player,’ Saha told Compare Bet. ‘So, yes, he is a player [former Old Trafford boss] Sir Alex Ferguson would have looked at.

‘However, given the situation at the club right now, our current number nines and forwards are too young. We need a combination of youth and experience, and the priority for me is an experienced player.

‘Kroupi can definitely manage to score a few goals, that’s for sure. But the kind of confidence you need, based on the amount of games and the amount of pressure we will have because we want to win the Champions League and the Premier League, means it’s probably a little bit early for him.

‘Let’s consider one more year where Kroupi is starting every game and isn’t a rookie anymore, and has that kind of confidence.’

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^ ^ ‘The future of Chelsea’ – Xabi Alonso urged to sign £80m Man Utd target

Xabi Alonso takes over at Chelsea in July (Picture: Getty)

Incoming Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has been urged to sign England midfielder Adam Wharton ahead of Manchester United.

Alonso, 44, takes charge at Stamford Bridge in July after being appointed as Chelsea’s new manager on a four-year contract.

The Blues turned to the former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder after sacking Liam Rosenior, who lasted just 106 days in the job.

Alonso takes over a Chelsea side who finished just 10th in the Premier League last season, failing to qualify for the Champions League or win any silverware just months after their Club World Cup triumph.

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The former Spain World Cup winner will hope to bring some of his own signings to west London this summer while also sanctioning exits for a number of unwanted players from a bloated and underperforming squad.

Ex-Chelsea midfielder Andy Townsend has recommended a move for Wharton, insisting the Crystal Palace star can form part of the ‘future’ of the club’s midfield alongside Moises Caicedo.

Wharton has been strongly linked with a summer move following another impressive season at Selhurst Park, emerging as a target for Chelsea’s Premier League rivals Manchester United.

Crystal Palace and England star Adam Wharton (Picture: Getty)

‘I could see a Moises Caicedo and Adam Wharton axis as the future of Chelsea,’ Townsend, who made over 100 appearances for the Blues, told OLBG.

‘If that’s the way that Xabi Alonso wants to do it, whether it’s a 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3, then I could absolutely see that working.

‘I think Adam Wharton is a very classy player. He reminds me of Michael Carrick, the way Carrick used to play at Manchester United, he always looked like he had a bit of time on the ball.

Ex-Chelsea midfielder Andy Townsend (Picture: Getty)

‘He wasn’t the quickest, and you think people would be able to get him and close him down, but that rarely happened. I think Adam Wharton is similar.

‘Whenever I watch him play, he always seemingly has his next pass ready, as soon as the ball comes to him, he knows what he’s doing.

‘Missing out on the England squad may act as a little bit of an incentive to feel that it’s time to move on. Palace have just enjoyed some success and on the back of that, it would make perfect sense for him to move.

Xabi Alonso on Chelsea appointment

‘Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club.

‘From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTcsdS1jUuv/?hl=en&img_index=1

‘We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.

‘There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honour to lead it. Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies.’

‘I think his left foot alongside Caicedo could absolutely work at a place like Chelsea. He is a talented player.

‘In this era of players who are physical specimens, it’s nice to see someone who can do a bit of that but also has an elegance about his game. Adam Wharton has that.

‘As I said, I think the nearest comparison I could make would be to someone like Michael Carrick, he plays in a very similar way. I think he’d suit Chelsea.’

Wharton is valued at around £80m by Crystal Palace, who clinched their first European trophy last season, winning the Conference League.

Manchester United have placed Wharton on their shortlist of summer targets as they look to bolster Michael Carrick’s midfield options.

But Chelsea have previously been linked with a move and could revive their interest if Enzo Fernandez gets his wish and leaves Stamford Bridge.

Fernandez is keen to secure a move away from Chelsea and is said to be a target for Real Madrid and Manchester City. The Blues would want around £120m to part ways with the Argentine.

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^ ^ Mikel Arteta tipped to sell Arsenal title winner: ‘I know it sounds mad’

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (Picture: Getty)

Paul Merson has raised a ‘mad’ Arsenal transfer theory, claiming Mikel Arteta will ‘probably be thinking’ about selling captain Martin Odegaard.

Odegaard became the first Arsenal captain since Patrick Vieira to lift the Premier League trophy as the Gunners clinched a long-awaited title last season.

It was Odegaard that immediately called Arteta after Manchester City dropped points at Bournemouth to inform his manager that the title belonged to Arsenal.

Odegaard has been one of Arsenal’s most important players during the Arteta era, making over 200 appearances for the club since his move from Real Madrid.

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But injury issues meant Odegaard was only a bit-part player during Arsenal’s title win, with the 27-year-old Norway international starting less than half of their Premier League games.

Despite his absence, Arteta has repeatedly stressed the importance of Odegaard and started the midfielder in last month’s Champions League final defeat to PSG.

Arsenal legend Merson has doubts over Odegaard’s future at the Emirates Stadium, however, and believes he is a player the club could look to sell during the summer transfer window.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard (Picture: Getty)

‘It’s madness for me to be saying this, but they probably will be thinking about that [selling Martin Odegaard]’, Merson said on The Sports Agents, which is available to watch/listen to now on Global Player, YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.

‘But for me, I still think there’ll be teams queuing round the block for him… When you play in the position that Odegaard plays in, you’re screaming out for pace up front. You have to have pace.’

Merson is not the first to question Odegaard’s future at Arsenal and the Norwegian was in fact urged to trigger a move himself earlier in the season by several pundits.

Arsenal legend Paul Merson (Picture: Getty)

Asked how Arteta should use Odegaard going forward, Liverpool legend Steve Nicol said on ESPN: ‘Odegaard might be leaving Arsenal.

‘If you’re Odegaard, the club captain and 18 months ago you were the guy. All of a sudden – and I know he’s had some injuries – but there’s question marks over whether he actually starts because of Eze.

‘And maybe because of the way he’s been playing, someone else might get ahead of him as well. So if you’re Martin Odegaard, do you stick around? I don’t think you do.’

Frank Leboeuf added: ‘I agree, I agree. I’ve always liked Martin Odegaard and the way he plays because he’s very elegant, but he’s not influential anymore.

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‘He’s there to start the action, to distribute the ball horizontally. But with Eze right now the moves are not the same, he’s more vertical, more influential and he’s going to help [Viktor] Gyokeres too.

‘So it will be a hard time for Odegaard and he will have to make a very good choice, a big choice, at the end of the season.’

Arsenal are believed to be open to offers for at least four members of their title-winning squad, with Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Ben White possibly leaving.

Arteta is also looking to bolster his Arsenal squad with at least three major signings, with his focus another striker and a left-winger.

Whatever happens during the summer transfer window, Merson fully expects Arsenal to once again challenge for the title next season.

‘I’d be shocked if Arsenal went away,’ he added. ‘I just think Arsenal are a proper solid, solid football team.

‘They have solid seven, eight out of 10 players, week in, week out. Across the board, across the squad, players are sevens and eights every week.’

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