Rumour Reel: Arsenal make Slimani contact in bid to finally bolster attacking ranks
Lee Gormley | August 25, 2016
Coral’s rumour reel
The Premier League action continues this weekend and, with just under a week left of the summer transfer window, top-flight teams will be scrambling to get deals done swiftly before it slams shut.
Arsenal make Slimani contact
It’s been another frustrating summer so far for Arsenal fans, with their club having so far failed to land a marquee signing, while long-serving boss Arsene Wenger still refuses to spend big in the market.
Although that could soon change before the August 31st transfer deadline, as the Gunners reportedly making a move for Sporting Lisbon attacking ace Islam Slimani, with the Algeria international hitman now high on their list of priorities.
The Londoners failed miserably in trying to land Frenchman Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon, but are now aiming to secure the signature of this talented Sporting striker, who has scored 47 goals in 80 league games for Lions since joining them in 2013.
So, as Arsenal make Slimani contact, the Emirates faithful will be slightly more enthusiastic about the season ahead, with the Gunners reportedly willing to part with more than £30m for the clinical Algerian frontman.
Saints to break transfer record for Boufal
With deadline day approaching, Southampton are set to smash their transfer record for a new acquisition, with the Saints lining up Lille’s Moroccan attacking midfielder Sofiane Boufal, in a deal worth around £20m.
The exciting 22-year-old playmaker is reportedly on the verge of signing with the south coast club, in a switch which would see him become their most expensive player ever, overtaking former flop Pablo Daniel Osvaldo who cost a substantial £15m three years ago.
Having sold the club’s joint top Premier League scorers from last season Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle, Boufal will give the Saints a much-needed boost in their attacking ranks, with the forward having also been tracked by Chelsea, Tottenham and Juventus.
Boufal netted 11 goals and set up five more last campaign in Ligue 1, though his season was prematurely ended in May as he needed to undergo knee surgery. The midfielder is now back to fitness though and could soon be arriving at St Mary’s as Southampton’s record signing.
Sunderland close on Manquillo
David Moyes recently admitted that his new side Sunderland will likely be involved in another top tier relegation battle this season, but the Scot is set to move for an Atletico Madrid defender in hope of helping to avoid such a familiar scenario.
The Blacks Cats are chasing Atleti’s Javier Manquillo as they seek the 22-year-old on a season-long loan deal from La Liga, with the defender having previously failed to impress during a short spell under Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool in 2014/15.
Manquillo has been capped seven times by Spain Under-21s and shone during a more recent loan stint in France with Marseille, but currently remains surplus to requirements at Atletico, as Moyes makes his move.
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