Arsenal’s transfer season is well under way and it looks like a couple of deals are now close. Like this? Read more Gossip here.
Petr Cech has agreed terms with Arsenal (El Confidencial)
Cech has moved even closer to moving to Arsenal as reports in Spain suggest the player has agreed terms with Arsenal and a transfer could be completed as early as next week. The only thing now reportedly holding up a deal is Jose Mourinho, although he himself has already admitted his influence is limited in negotiations. I think a deal will almost certainly be completed now, Arsenal are confident and Chelsea are now willing to sell to a rival club. Manchester United appear to be the only club that could possibly scupper a deal, but with David de Gea still at the club and Cech’s preference being London – Arsenal remain firm favourites for his signature.
Theo Walcott set to sign new Arsenal deal (Mirror)
Theo Walcott is set to sign da ting again. The English forward finished the season on good form and now looks set to extend his stay at the club. Arsene Wenger will be delighted to see him extend, as the manager was very clear that he sees Walcott as a central figure at the club. With his contract expiring at the end of next season, The Gunners will be glad to avoid a repeat of his last contract situation which saw him wait until less than six months remained on his deal before signing.
Abou Diaby set to sign new pay as you play deal (L’Equipe)
Well, when Abou Diaby was left off of Arsenal’s player retained list at the start of the week, the world rightly presumed that Diaby would not stay at the club. But.. in a dramatic new twist to Diaby’s Arsenal career, the French midfielder now could extend his deal at the club on a pay as you play contract. It is thought he would earn £80,000 per appearance. It is maybe the right thing to do ethically, but questions have to be asked as to whether Arsenal should invest more time, let alone money in a player who has managed two appearances in the last two years. The positive of a pay as you play deal is we won’t spend unless he is fit enough to play, but I hope that doesn’t prevent us from signing a new defensive midfielder as we know for a fact that we cannot rely on Diaby. If he gets fit for some league cup games, that could be useful. We know how good he can be.