Arsenal transfer news LIVE updates: Brozovic talks next week, City's £70m Sanchez hope

ARSENAL are hoping to fine-tune their squad ahead of the transfer deadline - and Express Sport brings you the latest transfer news from the Emirates.

Jean SeriGETTY

Arsenal and Barcelona want to sign Jean Seri

ARSENAL TRANSFER NEWS LIVE UPDATES: Follow below for the latest from the Emirates...

Saturday August 19

Sanchez to Man City

23:00: Manchester City are reportedly plotting a £70million bid to pluck Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal.

Alexis Sanchez missed Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Stoke earlier today with a muscular injury.

The Chilean, who is into the final year of his current deal, is demanding a new contract worth in excess of £300,000 a week.

City have been keeping tabs on Sanchez, with Pep Guardiola keen to reunite with the player who he previously worked with at Barcelona.

And now, according to the Sunday Mirror, Guardiola is planning a £70m raid to get the 28-year-old.

The Mirror say the Etihad boss will work right until the 11pm deadline of the window on August 31 to secure a deal.

Arsenal to sell players

22:00: Arsene Wenger expects some Arsenal players to leave before the transfer window shuts on August 31.

“I expect to sell players first [before we buy]. We have too many and it is not manageable,” he said after Arsenal’s defeat to Stoke.

“We have 31, that's too many. But I am not after a game like that in transfer mode."

Arsenal suffer defeat

20:00: Arsenal lost their first game of the season after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Stoke this evening.

The Potters' new signing Jese popped up with the winner on his debut.

READ ALL ABOUT ARSENAL'S DEFEAT TO STOKE HERE

Alex makes Gunners best - Gerrard

18.55: Alexandre Lacazette has made Arsenal the best attacking team in the Premier League, according to pundit Steven Gerrard.

Lacazette scored on his Premier League debut for the Gunners after joining from Lyon in a club-record deal, and Gerrard has been impressed by what he’s seen.

“They’ve added Lacazette and he looks a real buy,” Gerrard said on BT Sport.

“They’ve spent a lot of money on him but I’ve watched him a bit this season and he started with a bang. 

"In the final third they are probably the best team in the Premier League in terms of creating and scoring goals.”

Stoke v Arsenal

17:30: Away from transfer news, Arsenal are taking on Stoke at the bet365 Stadium in their second game of the Premier League campaign.

Barcelona consider Gunners target Seri

15:33: Arsenal’s interest in Jean Seri may be over as Barcelona prepare a bid for the Nice star.

Arsenal and Liverpool have both been linked with deals for Seri in recent weeks.

He is valued at £33million and Nice are desperate to retain him for this season.

But Spanish newspaper Sport claim a deal for Seri is now on Barca’s to-do list.

According to the report, Barca are ready to give up on Philippe Coutinho and instead chase Seri, as well as PSG’s Angel Di Maria.

Liverpool may want Seri but they would prefer to keep Coutinho.

Arsenal are yet to strengthen their midfield this summer and there are doubts over the futures of Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Marcelo BrozovicGETTY

Arsenal reportedly want to sign Marcelo Brozovic

Arsenal want Brozovic

12:40: Arsenal want to sign Marcelo Brozovic and talks could begin next week, according to TV station Sport Italia.

Arsenal are yet to strengthen their midfield but discussions with Inter Milan are supposedly set to get underway.

The report claims a number of Premier League sides are interested in the Croatia international.

But Arsenal are frontrunners to sign the player.

Jonny Evans nearly signed for Arsenal

10:15: Jonny Evans nearly signed for Arsenal last summer, according to West Brom boss Tony Pulis.

“He had a chance to go to Arsenal last year,” Pulis said.

“It didn’t affect him in any way."

Manchester City are currently tracking the Northern Ireland star and have had an £18m bid rejected.

Man Utd in Thomas Lemar driving seat

09:04: Manchester United are favourites to sign Thomas Lemar over Arsenal, claims journalist Ian McGarry.

“I’d say Manchester United are in the driving seat right now (for Lemar),” McGarry said on The Transfer Window podcast.

“I think Wenger was depending on the whole French connection at Arsenal, bringing in a player who obviously has played for the (French) national team with Giroud, Lacazette, Koscielny and others.

“But they haven’t got the deal over the line yet and they’ve been trying for six weeks.

“And if Manchester United did come in with the right offer and the right contract and the charm and charisma of Jose Mourinho telling a player how he’ll play, where he’ll play as he does.”

Marcos LlorenteGETTY

Arsenal are interested in signing Real Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente

Mbappe heading to PSG

08:43: Arsenal and Real Madrid target Kylian Mbappe will be presented as a new Paris Saint-Germain player next week, according to reports.

An announcement on the striker’s move from Monaco to the Ligue 1 champions will come in a matter of hours.

That is according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, who claim Real Madrid and Arsenal have lost the race to sign the winger.

The deal will cost PSG €200m (£183m) including bonuses and will finally see one of the world’s top-rated players leave Monaco.

Arsenal has an £87m bid for Mbappe turned away earlier this summer, while Real Madrid were also snubbed.

Sanchez to Man Utd

08:04: Paul Merson says Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez would guarantee Manchester United the title if he moved to Old Trafford.

"Manchester United should make a bid of more than £50m for Alexis Sanchez because he could bring them the title," Merson told the Daily Star. 

"I wouldn’t get too carried away by the way they steamrolled West Ham last Sunday because they are still a player short for me. For the first 25 minutes or so of that game they never looked like scoring. 

"It was just like last season all over again. Then a bit of magic and they’re in front. But will they do that every week?

"In the end West Ham just rolled over. I didn’t fancy United at the start of the season and I didn’t see anything in that game to change my mind. 

"But if they got Sanchez, I would. He would make a massive difference. 

"Arsenal won’t sell him to a rival for £50m but if United offered £60m or £70m he goes. United can afford it as well. 

"They would get most of it back in shirt sales. They’re one of the biggest clubs in the world and their club shop is the size of a shopping centre. They should go for him."

Real Madrid star Llorente eyed

06:00: Arsenal have entered the race to sign Real Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente. 

The 22-year-old may be allowed to leave the Bernabeu this summer due to Mateo Kovacic's impressive performances in the middle of the park. 

And Spanish outlet AS claim the Gunners have expressed an interest in securing his services. 

It is said Real will hope to seal another loan deal or a permanent transfer with a buy-back option. 

Sevilla and Atletico Madrid are also apparently interested in Llorente. 

Thomas LemarGETTY

Manchester United and Arsenal want to sign Thomas Lemar (left)

Arsenal transfer news LIVE updates

Sanchez to Barcelona claim

05:30: Alexis Sanchez would be a good addition at Barcelona if they were to consider re-signing him from Arsenal, according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague. 

“To be honest this is a good point,” Balague said on SkySports during a Twitter Q&A when asked why Barcelona have not considered Sanchez.

“But he didn’t succeed at Barcelona, he struggled with the style at Barca at that time. 

"Now he would be a good addition, but no, they have not considered him.”

Alexis Sanchez sweats in INTENSE workout

Gabriel joins Valencia

05:00: Gabriel has left Arsenal to join Valencia on a five-year deal. 

The Brazil international was deemed surplus to requirements at the Emirates last season. 

But he has now sealed a return to Spain where he previously played for Villarreal after two seasons in north London. 

“Valencia have reached an agreement with Arsenal for the transfer of Gabriel Paulista,” a club statement read.

“The Brazilian player has joined Valencia CF for the next 5 seasons, until the 30th of June, 2022, with a buyout clause of 80 million euros.”

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?