Arsenal are interested in one of Manchester United’s striker transfer targets while Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino hopes to help Dele Alli through his troubles…
TAREMI TUSSLE
Arsenal are reportedly interested in Porto striker Mehdi Taremi – who has also been linked with Manchester United this summer – as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his forward options.
The Gunners boss has Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah as the central strikers in his squad as things stand, with new signing Kai Havertz also able to take up that position, as he frequently did for Chelsea last season.
But Taremi has built an strong reputation as an out-and-out goalscorer in recent years – something Arsenal perhaps lack – and got 31 goals in 51 games across all competitions last season.
He would be a signing against the grain in some ways at 30 years old, with Arteta and Edu tending to target younger individuals.
But Portuguese outlet O Jogo claim Taremi is ‘being monitored by Arsenal as a target in the coming weeks’, with United also said to be looking at the Iran international as an option if they fail to agree a fee with Atalanta for top target Rasmus Hojlund.
DELE’S GAFFER
With tongues firmly in cheeks we questioned whether Harry Kane and Dele Alli may join Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea, in a Spurs sadists wet dream. That’s not going to happen, but Poch revealed in his first Blues press conference that he plans to reach out to Dele in the coming weeks.
He’s had a rough time of it, ending his seven-year Spurs stay to join Everton in January last year before heading to Besiktas on loan, where manager Senio Gunes declared the England international was “below expectations in terms of efficiency”.
Dele’s back at Everton for pre-season and Sean Dyche has kept his cards close to his chest when asked about the midfielder’s future, but Pochettino says he hopes to get in touch with the 27-year-old to work out what’s going on.
“I hope to have some time to call and see because he is a great guy and I want to talk a little bit with him and hear,” the Argentine explained. “I want to help him and see what is going on with him. He is still young.
“And for sure he has the mentality. Now it’s a long time since I spoke to him but I want to contact him again and see what is going on.”
FRIMP-ON?
Most of the Manchester United transfer talk is centering around their bids to land a new goalkeeper and striker as they negotiate for Andre Onana from Inter and Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta, but the rumour mill can’t help but look at other areas of their squad and starting XI to improve.
Right-back is one of those areas despite both Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka impressing at time last season, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong is a name that keeps cropping up.
He’s also been linked with Arsenal, and Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenburg has addressed the rumours.
He tweeted: ‘Arsenal and #Frimpong, it’s not a hot topic at this stage. Instead, ManUtd is still monitoring his situation. Next steps depend on the new owners. #MUFC Player has not yet taken a decision. He’s considering his options. But: Key player for [Xabi] Alonso. His price: £35m.’
