Mikel Arteta is still in the rebuilding process at the Gunners. After a very shaky start, they are now unbeaten in four games in the league and now sit in 11th place only six points off the leaders.

The Spaniard spent around £150 million in the summer transfer window a few months ago. That money brought him a centre half and midfielder in Ben White and Martin Odegaard but he failed to secure another striker.

The club has relied heavily on their aging forwards who have shown patchy form in recent months. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is back in the goalscoring charts but his partner Alexandre Lacazette is struggling to get on the starting team.

The 30-year-old Frenchman has only appeared in two league games this season and with only one year left on his contract, it is very unlikely that it will be renewed. Last year, he scored 13 goals in 31 games so it would still be possible to sell him in January. Otherwise, the player will most likely leave for free in June.

Expecting a goal from @LacazetteAlex @arsenal #ARSTOT#NorthLondonDerby pic.twitter.com/E76cfT9yKL

— Thee Trendeneur❁︎ (@ItsTheeRay) September 26, 2021

How will they replace Lacazette?

Instead, the Gunners have already started looking at younger English alternatives to replace him.

The two men that the club wants to pick between would be Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. Both players are 25 or younger and scored more than Lacazette did last season.

Arsenal’s main problem is that they cannot promise European football to these players that want to further their careers. Going by last season’s results, Arsenal would be a step up for the young players but they have both shown enough quality to get called up for England’s national team along with Champions League winners.

Although this so far is still only an unlikely rumor, the more probable signing for Arsenal would be Watkins.

Calvert-Lewin is the star striker at Everton and has grown up in their ranks. Watkins, on the other hand, is now in competition with the new signing Danny Ings and has only been at the club for two years.

The English striker would be a very promising signing for Arsenal. He will be able to partner or compete with Aubameyang for a striker position.

Would you prefer Calvert-Lewin or Watkins to replace Lacazette? #AFC pic.twitter.com/6LpfctJVPX

— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) October 5, 2021

For now, Arsenal will focus on their next game in the league. They play Crystal Palace at home at 20:00 on Monday 18th October.

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The post Calvert-Lewin and Watkins rumored in Arsenal move appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

‘Les Gones’ are offering €6 million plus add-ons for the bit-part player on Merseyside but Liverpool are holding out for €8 million.

They signed Shaqiri from Stoke in the summer of 2018 for a price of £13 million (€15 million).

The 29-year-old has won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and the Premier League with Liverpool.

There is no agreement between the clubs yet but talks are ongoing, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Shaqiri’s potential new contract is ready until June 2024 and the two-time Champions League-winning player is now pushing for the move away.

The Swiss talisman has made 63 appearances for the Reds and has racked up 17 goal involvements in that time.

The winger, who can also play in an advanced midfield role, only managed to earn 819 minutes of football last season in 22 games across all competitions for his club.

He was out of action due to a muscle injury from the end of November through to December but could not break into the side when fit.

Shaqiri was an unused substitute for the side 15 times throughout the season – the Premier League tally (13) is close to the number of appearances he had in the competition (14) in 2020/21.

The former Stoke star impressed fans on occasion but never got a consistent run in the side and fell further down the pecking order the longer he stayed at the club.

Lyon have been searching for a replacement for Memphis Depay, who ran down his contract and moved to Barcelona earlier this summer.

Shaqiri, a player who can play in the role that Depay did at the club, would be useful for head coach Peter Bosz, who thrives on attacking football.

The 29-year-old will want to make the most of his prime years in football and a starring role for Lyon would be the perfect opportunity to do so.

The post Liverpool Winger Shaqiri Agrees Terms With Lyon appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

James Maddison has been linked with the side recently and his club has put a £70 million price tag on him.

Maddison is currently under contract with the FA Cup and FA Community Shield champions until 2024.

The 24-year-old attacking midfielder has scored 27 times for the Foxes and made 20 assists in 119 appearances in his time with the club.

Leicester’s ideal outcome of the situation would see them keep hold of their attacking midfielder for the upcoming season.

Former Hull City forward Dean Windass believes that the size of Arsenal compared to Leicester will have Maddison’s head turned.

Windass spoke to Transfer Tavern about the potential move and does not understand why Maddison would stay where he is.

Although Windass acknowledged that Leicester have been the better side in recent times, he argued that Arsenal’s position in world football is greater.

“Why wouldn’t you want to go to Arsenal?” the ex-Hull City striker said. “Listen, we talk about footballers now where it’s not about money anymore, it’s about winning trophies. Are Arsenal going to be in the top four next year? No. Are Leicester with Jamie Vardy? Yes.

“But a big club like Arsenal calling and he’s obviously open to it, reports saying he’d welcome the move.”

Leicester has finished above Arsenal in the Premier League in the last two seasons.

However, the two sides have won as much silverware as each other in that time and Arsenal have enjoyed much more success a the top level of English football than Leicester.

Windass sees that as an important trait for a club to have but it remains to be seen whether Maddison will be tempted over to North London.

The post Leicester Star James Maddison ‘Obviously Open’ To Arsenal Move appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.