Waching daily Jun 30 2017

Arsenal Transfer News LIVE updates: Lacazette focus, failed Lemar bid, Gazidis pledge

ARSENAL transfer news is coming thick and fast and Express Sport is here to keep you updated with all the latest gossip. ARSENAL TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: All the latest on Kylian Mbappe, Thomas Lemar, Hector Bellerin and more….

04:00: Arsenal chief Ivan Gazidis is adamant the club have to be ambitious in the summer window. Arsene Wenger is expected to be handed a £100million transfer window.

And Gazidis said: "I believe that to be a world-class football club youve got to be world class off the pitch. I care about the club and those values. I want the club to be successful..

02:00 Monaco think Arsenal are not serious about signing Thomas Lemar. Thats according to the Independent who say the Ligue 1 side are holding out for mega-money to part with their star asset.

They want to keep him as they feel he could fetch a fee of around £75million if he stays for one more year.

Arsenal failed in a bid to sign Lemar earlier this week but reports suggested they could launch a fresh £35m offer. 00:45: Arsenal are going to reportedly focus all their energy on trying to sign Lyon star Alexandre Lacazette.

Arsene Wenger is keen to bolster his strike force this summer, as he seeks to turn his side into title contenders.

Olivier Giroud's future remains uncertain and recent reports suggested he could be used in a part-exchange deal in order to land Lacazette.

And now according to the Daily Mail, Wenger is ready to abandon his pursuit of Mbappe in order to seal a deal for Lacazette.

23:30: Barcelona have reportedly joined Arsenal in the hunt for Thomas Lemar, according to reports. The Monaco ace is sought after with Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham chasing the midfielder's signature.

According to French paper L'Equipe, Barcelona are in the race for his signature. Arsenal have already had a £30million bid rejected, but could come back in with another offer worth £35m.

22:45: Hector Bellerin will reportedly push Arsenal into sealing a deal with Barcelona next week. The 22-year-old is currently away at the Under-21 European Championship with Spain but will return to London on Monday.

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, he will then start working with Arsenal officials and pressure the club to let him go. Bellerin is aware Barcelona want to sort out a switch quickly or they will move on to other targets.

He knows, though, it won't be easy as Arsenal have asked the Spanish club not to persist. No talks have yet been held between Bellerin and Arsene Wenger, but he is ready to make his stance clear next week.

21:20: Liverpool do not view Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as a back-up option to signing Naby Keita this summer, reports claim. According to the Liverpool Echo, both are set to be pursued despite potentially filling similar roles.

A deal is not yet close for either player to join Liverpool, although Arsenal have had an enquiry over Oxlade-Chamberlain's availability. Arsenal will reluctantly sell if the stand-off with Oxlade-Chamberlain over a new deal continues.

Liverpool are expected to bid if the Gunners decide to listen to offers, although Jurgen Klopp cannot necessarily guarantee him regular game time. It is added Oxlade-Chamberlain is currently the Reds' most likely signing ahead of Keita and Van Dijk.

20:20: Arsenal must sign Alexandre Lacazette this summer or a striker even better than him, according to former Gunner Paul Mariner. Lacazette is Arsene Wengers No 1 transfer target and Arsenal have already seen a bid rejected for the 26-year-old.

Its got to happen, its got to happen, Mariner said on ESPN FC. If its not Lacazette its got to be somebody of that quality or higher quality because thats what they need.

They need somebody to put the ball consistently in the back of that net. 19:05: West Ham are determined to sign Olivier Giroud from Arsenal.

According to French newspaper LEquipe, the Hammers are very interested and pose as a credible solution for Giroud. The 29-year-old could leave the Emirates this summer in search of first-team football with Alexandre Lacazette being pursued by Arsenal.

And Giroud wants to stay in London, giving Slaven Bilic real hope of beating Lyon and Marseille in the race. 17:45: Tottenham have pulled out of the race to sign Arsenal target Thomas Lemar.

Monaco are determined not to sell their star winger, with a number of their players being linked with moves away.

And according to Sky Sports, Spurs do not wish to rival their north London rivals as they do not have huge transfer funds. Arsenal have already had a bid of around £30m rejected, and a No10 remains Tottenhams priority instead.

16:35: Bayern Munich will struggle to sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal, according to former goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.

Of course [Alexis Sanchez is a target], but in todays professional football it is not that easy to get the big transfers - the so-called grenade - even for Bayern," he told the Evening Standard.

It is not easy to get a new [Franck] Ribery or a new [Arjen] Robben, because other clubs dont necessarily have to sell their players because they have enormous amounts of money.

They can make their players stay at the club and thats whats making it more difficult for Bayern to buy top stars.

15:14: Robert Pires has told Arsene Wenger to agree new deals with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil - before going on a spending spree.

He said: "This summer for Arsene Wenger is very important. "In my opinion, he needs to try to extend the contracts of Alexis and Mesut Ozil. This is the first thing, and after of course you need to sign new players.

"Everything has changed because we're not playing in the Champions League, but we must focus and look forward to the new season. 13:50: Crystal Palace have expressed interest in signing former Manchester United and Arsenal star Robin van Persie.

The Dutchman left the Old Trafford for Fenerbahce in July 2015, but is eager to return to the Premier League, The Mirror claim.

New Eagles boss Frank De Boer is thought to be weighing up a deal for the 33-year-old forward, who netted 18 goals in 39 appearances last season.

Stoke, West Ham and Middlesbrough have also been linked in the past, but it's unclear whether they're still interested. 13:00: Arsenal have received a boost in their battle to keep Alexis Sanchez.

It appears that Bayern Munich president, Uli Hoeness, has ruled out approaching Sanchez because of the club's policy to sign 'young players between 20 and 22.

Sanchez wants in excess of £350,000-a-week to leave the Gunners, who will ask for around £50million for the Chilean even though his contract expires in 12 months, and the astronomical figures seem to have cooled Bayerns interest.

Hoeness said: "We are all talking about a reconstruction and about planning Bayern Munichs future.

"Then we do that, signing young players between 20 and 22 - and there are critics again. But you cannot reconstruct a team by signing 29 or 30-year-old players for €100m. That is no policy.".

Hoeness' comments have left Pep Guardiola's Manchester City as clear favourites to sign the Emirates superstar. 12:30: Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has agreed personal terms with Juventus.

Calcio Mercato claim the goalkeeper is close to swapping Arsenal for the Serie A champions. Juve want him to be Gianluigi Buffons long-term heir with the Italy internationals time at the club drawing to a close.

The 27-year-old is not in Arsenals plans for next season and will be allowed to leave as a result. 11:45: Robert Pires has pleaded with Arsenal to resolve the Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez contract saga.

Ozil and Sanchez are entering the final 12 months of their Emirates contracts, and still haven't agreed terms with the North London club.

The Daily Mirror claim Manchester City have become the favourites to sign the Chilean after Bayern Munich were put off by the Arsenal forwards wage demands.

And Pires wants Arsene Wenger to stamp out any prospect of the forward leaving to a Premier League rival.

He told Arsenal Player: "This summer for Arsene Wenger is very important. In my opinion, he needs to try to extend the contracts of Alexis and Mesut Ozil.

This is the first thing, and after of course you need to sign new players.

Everything has changed because were not playing in the Champions League, but we must focus and look forward to the new season. The most important thing is to win the Premier League, for him, the players and the fans.".

11:05: Chelsea have approached Torino about the possibility of signing talisman Andrea Belotti, reports claim. Manchester United and Arsenal were thought to be the Premier League's most interested parties, but Tuttosport says differently.

The Italian newspaper claims Chelsea have entered the race, and have already contacted the Serie A side about their £80million-rated striker. Journalist Tancredi Palmeri tweeted: "Chelsea have contacted Torino for Belotti, according to tomorrow edition of Tuttosport.

Belotti, 23, is contracted to the Torino until June 2021, and has a whopping £85m release clause that potential suitors will have to trigger. 10:35: Chelsea's imminent signing of Monaco star Tiemoue Bakayoko could spoil Arsenal's chances of signing Thomas Lemar.

The Sun claim Chelsea will announce Bakayoko's arrival on Saturday, along with their new Nike kit. But good news for the Premier League champions could be terrible news for Arsenal, according to Jason Burt.

The Telegraph's chief football correspondent claims Monaco will not sell Bakayoko and Lemar in same window. He tweeted: "Was told weeks ago that Monaco will not sell Bakayoko and Lemar in same window. So Chelseas Bakayoko deal may kill Arsenals Lemar chances.".

10:00: IFK Gothenburg goalkeeper Pontus Dahlber has responded to his Premier League suitors. Fotbolldirekt. se credited North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham with interest in the 18-year-old stopper, who's also caught the attention of Paris Saint-Germain and Bayer Leverkusen.

Its clear that its fun to be linked with big clubs. But I do not know how much is in that. Ill have to hear from my agent, Dahlberg said.

09:10: Kylian Mbappe has dropped a subtle hint that he will remain with Monaco next season. Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Liverpool have all been credited with interest in the £100m-rated French superstar.

But they might be forced to wait another season. Mbappe, 18, has changed his Twitter cover photo to a snap of himself running past an advertising board which says 'priceless'.

08:10: Arsenal are preparing an improved offer for Monaco superstar Thomas Lemar. Arsenal recently saw a £28million bid for the French international rejected, but there's a second approach in the pipeline.

The Sun claim Arsene Wenger is desperate to bring the high-rated 21-year-old to North London, and will test Monaco's resolve with a £35million offer - £7m more than their initial bid.

The report says talks between the two clubs are ongoing, but no deal has been agreed.

07:05: Barcelona have Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin in their sights. Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo claim Ernesto Valverde is desperate to bring Bellerin, 22, back to the Nou Camp before the end of next week.

It's believed the right-back is "crazy" about returning to his native Spain, and would seriously consider any proposal from the Catalan outfit. But there's hope for Arsenal fans.

Spanish journalist Xavier Munoz suggests Barcelona will begin to look elsewhere for other possible targets if there's no significant progress this week. 07:00: David Ospina has been in contact with Claudio Ranieri's Nantes about a possible transfer, according to reports.

The Colombia international apparently wants to leave the Emirates after growing frustrated at playing second-fiddle to Petr Cech. He was heavily linked with a move to Fenerbahce, but a move fell through.

And France Football claim Ranieri has made Ospina a priority target as he bids to build a squad capable of mounting a Ligue 1 title challenge next season.

The report adds the Gunners are demanding Nantes pay £3. 5million to secure his sign.