A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as Gunners chiefs make a key transfer decisionand Didier Deschamps shares his verdict on William Saliba for France against Austria.
Arsenal value Victor Osimhen’s transfer at 62.5% of Napoli’s asking price
Arsenal are interested in signing Victor Osimhen but value the striker’s transfer at just 62.5% of SSC Napoli’s asking price. That is according to Valter De Maggio, who claims the Gunners have received a boost in the market with a move to Saudi Arabia not appealing for Osimhen.
But Azzurri president Aurelio de Laurentiis is demanding that interested sides trigger the full €120m (£101.5m) release clause in the 25-year-old’s contract. Arsenal are only interested in paying €75m (£63.5m) to secure Osimhen’s transfer, despite Mikel Arteta targeting a striker.
Arteta wants Arsenal to sign a new striker after Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus only scored five and four goals in the Premier League last season. Osimhen recorded 15 goals during his 25 appearances in Serie A but De Laurentiis’ asking price is more than Arsenal want to pay.
Read more about Arsenal’s interest in Osimhen’s transfer from Napoli, here.
Alan Shearer thought Bukayo Saka was ‘outstanding’ for England vs Serbia
Three Lions hero Alan Shearer thought Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka was ‘outstanding’ as he helped England beat Serbia at Euro 2024 on Sunday. The 22-year-old’s deflected cross led to Jude Bellingham heading home the only goal of the Group C meeting in the 13th minute.
It marked Saka’s eighth assist during 34 caps for his country, having also scored 11 goals so far. He was often too much for Serbia stars Filip Kostic and Strahinja Pavlovic to handle over the first 45 minutes. Dragan Stojkovic’s side responded to frustrate England after the break.
Kostic and Pavlovic would seldom stop Saka from getting behind Serbia’s defence during the first half on Sunday. His dribbling and runs in behind gave Gareth Southgate’s side a spark of life to begin Euro 2024 with a win. Shearer could only praise Saka after England beat Serbia.
“I was impressed with Saka in the first half,” Shearer said on The Rest is Football. “[He] was brilliant. I thought he was outstanding.”
Read more about what Shearer has said about Saka’s display for England vs Serbia, here.
Didier Deschamps drops his verdict on William Saliba’s display vs Austria
France boss Didier Deschamps believes Arsenal star William Saliba ‘exuded a lot of strength’ after his surprise start against Austria. The 23-year-old was expected to miss out on their XI to open Group D at Euro 2024 on Monday. Yet Saliba got the nod ahead of Ibrahima Konate.
Deschamps states that he decided to favour the Arsenal ace over the Liverpool star as Saliba appeared better prepared. Les Bleus won 1-0 at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf via an own goal from Max Wober. Kylian Mbappe’s cross enticed the own goal in the 38th minute.
It was only Saliba’s ninth start through 15 caps for France since the Arsenal ace’s first call-up in March 2022. Deschamps has named the centre-back in 24 teams over the past two years. And while Saliba has scope to improve, Deschamps admired his work as France beat Austria.
“If I decided to play William Saliba, it is because I thought he was more ready than Konate for such a match,” Deschamps said in his post-match press conference. “But I don’t want to lose anyone, either. We will need everyone.
“[Saliba and Dayot Upamecano] have 120 minutes together for the France national team. It’s not a lot but they have this ability to be very solid in one-on-one [situations].
“Even if there were some clearances that they could improve on, they exuded a lot of strength and calmness. We needed that against such an opponent.”
Read more about what Deschamps has said about Saliba’s France display vs Austria, here.