Transfer Talk: Arsenal would sell Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Mesut Ozil to raise cash

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The transfer window for Europe’s biggest clubs is closed, but click here for all the deals. Transfer Talk will continue to scour the world’s media and set correspondents loose to see what’s on the agenda for the summer.

Mkhitaryan and Ozil out, Barella in?

Arsenal boss Unai Emery is reportedly looking to sell Henrikh Mkhitaryan in order to free up spending money for new players this summer, says the Mirror, and Mesut Ozil also could be on his way out, with Arsenal reportedly keen to offload their biggest earners.

Emery was restricted to loan signings in the January transfer window and could start the summer transfer window with only a small fund if Arsenal fail to finish in the top four. However, with Aaron Ramsey gone and Petr Cech retiring and a number of stars reported to be on their way out, including Danny Welbeck, Emery hopes to have enough money to make four new signings.

One of those targets, according to the Mirror, is Italy star Nicolo Barella. The Cagliari midfielder is seen as the ideal replacement for Juventus-bound Ramsey, but any deal for the 22-year-old could depend on whether Arsenal will be playing Champions League football next season.

Ole to be named boss by the weekend …

It looks as though the worst-kept secret in football is finally about to be revealed, with the Mirror reporting that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is to be named the permanent manager at Manchester United as early as Friday.

United have won 14 of the 19 games that the Norwegian has overseen since his return to Manchester, and it appears that Ed Woodward is now finally convinced that Solskjaer is the man to lead the club in 2019-20 and beyond.

Woodward had previously said that no announcement would be made until the end of this season, but Solskjaer appears to have done enough to seal the deal. The dramatic late win against Paris Saint-Germain is the result that appears to have tipped the balance in Solskjaer’s favour, and he has now been officially released from his contract at Molde, paving the way for the 46-year-old to take charge ahead of the business end of the season and a key summer of recruitment.

… and keen to keep key United duo

Staying in Manchester, it appears that Solskjaer’s first move as full-time boss would be to state that Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford are not for sale, even if keeping Pogba scuppers any potential move for Gareth Bale, according to the Telegraph.

Pogba was linked with a move away from Old Trafford during the first half of the season when he fell out with Jose Mourinho. The Frenchman even recently suggested it would be a dream to join Real Madrid and play under Zinedine Zidane. However, Pogba has been a key part of United’s change in fortunes under Solskjaer, and the Norwegian has said that Pogba remains a key part of his plans for next season.

Despite what the Telegraph says, Tuttopsort are reporting that Pogba’s agent is demanding a huge pay rise and a move to Madrid for his client.

Rashford also has been linked with Madrid (and Barcelona, although a source says the Catalans see that as about as likely as dating a supermodel), but Solskjaer is keen to tie the young striker down. The club are said to be in talks with Rashford over a long-term deal.

Tap ins

– Everyone wants Kylian Mbappe, including Real Madrid. The Sun reports that the Frenchman’s father is in constant contact with Los Blancos, though the player himself has said he would like to win the Champions League with PSG before he departs. He could be in the French capital for some time then.

– The future of Mario Mandzukic is set to become a lot clearer in the next 48 hours, with Calciomercato reporting that the striker is set to stay at Juventus. They seem pretty confident that an official announcement will be made soon.

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