The gossip has been a bit quiet lately, but everything has heated up again today, with a couple of big stories. Remember you can follow all the Arsenal transfer news on our new aggregator here.
Arsenal eyeing Robert Lewandowski swoop (El Confidencial)
Kike Marin from El Confidencial tweeted on Thursday morning that Arsenal’s back up target to Karim Benzema was Robert Lewandowski. Not a bad back up hey? Marin is regarded as a reliable source but this one seems pretty out there. I think if the Gunners fail to sign either Benzema or Lewandowski this summer, his reputation will suffer massively. He is convinced we will get one of them and if we do then he deserves a lot of credit for another summer of very accurate Arsenal reports. I can’t see Bayern Munich wanting to sell Lewandowski. I appreciate he might not be Pep Guardiola’s ideal striker but they already lack natural options in that striking role. Unless Guardiola wants to permanently convert to a false 9 system with Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze amongst the options in that role.
Besiktas to launch shock swoop for Danny Welbeck (Fanatix)
Reports in Turkey suggest Besiktas want to sign Arsenal forward Welbeck. Whilst he is far from indispensable, I don’t think Wenger will want to sell a player after one season and a player that does have some very useful qualities. Whilst the first team assurances that Besiktas would offer must appeal to Welbeck in some way, I’m sure the player will want to stay at Arsenal and succeed, he’s better than Turkey – especially at his age. If Wenger manages to bring in someone like Karim Benzema, Welbeck will have to work hard to get game time and perhaps a move away next summer could be possible. For now, though, I expect Welbeck to stay and contribute to a (hopefully) title winning team next season. He gives us something different and I would be disappointed if he were to leave this summer. The report also says they are eyeing Mario Balotelli and Mario Gomez as they search to replace Demba Ba; they may have more success there.
West Brom in talks to sign Abou Diaby (Birmingham Mail)
Tony Pulis is reportedly heading talks to sign Abou Diaby after the midfielder was released by Arsenal. Several clubs appear to be interested in Diaby, despite his injury history with MLS side FC Dallas also thought to want to sign the 29 year old. For Diaby’s sake, I hope he gets back fit and back to his best but I severely doubt it and whoever signs him will be taking a huge risk, surely they would only offer a pay as you play contract? French people rate Diaby incredibly highly due to his brilliant international performances whenever he has been fit.