Arsenal Transfer News: Big Names Linked in Latest Emirates Stadium Rumours
Arsenal could be welcoming former Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo to the Emirates according to the latest rumours.
Per George Bellshaw of Metro, the Spaniard has been offered to the Gunners for £24 million by Valencia.
As the Mirror's John Cross reports, Valencia were obliged to buy Negredo at the end of his loan spell with the club, but after his struggles to make an impact with Los Murcielagos the club are keen to move him on.
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Negredo started just 15 games for Valencia last season, scoring six goals and making four assists, per WhoScored.com.
Prior to his season-long loan, the 29-year-old plied his trade in Manchester and began life at the Etihad in spectacular fashion, as he scored 23 goals in his first 33 appearances for the club. However, a shoulder injury saw his form at City crumble.
Despite his recent struggles with form and fitness, Negredo is a proven goalscorer and would add to the strength of Arsenal's forward line.
When Valencia brought Negredo to the Mestalla last summer, the Guardian's Sid Lowe was optimistic about what a player of his calibre signified for the club. While things clearly haven't proceeded as planned at Valencia, Negredo can recapture the form he once enjoyed.
Homesickness was widely thought to be the reason for Negredo's departure from England, but the striker insists this was not the case.
Per the Daily Mail's Adam Crafton, he said: "I was not homesick. I was very happy in Manchester and on a personal level. It is a different way of life but it is not an excuse... There are things you miss when you leave your country, but the main reason I left is because the manager lost faith in me."
This could open the door for a return to the Premier League, where Negredo adapted so well.
The forward's power and physicality are two of his biggest assets and would add a new dimension to Arsenal, but the Spaniard is also technically gifted and would easily slot into the Gunners' intricate build-up play without a problem.
At his age, £24 million could be a stumbling block, but with Valencia eager to sell, expect to see Arsenal negotiating that price down.
Kwadwo Asamoah to Leave Juventus?
According to George Bellshaw of Metro, Arsenal are interested in signing Juventus utility man Kwadwo Asamoah.
The Ghanaian missed the vast majority of last season due to a knee injury and could be moved on from the Serie A champions having lost his place in the side.
In the season prior, Asamoah was a regular for Juventus and missed just four league games.
In that time, Asamoah won an impressive 56 percent of his duels, including 50 tackles, 30 aerial battles and completed 74 take-ons, according to Squawka.
The versatile 26-year-old can operate comfortably in midfield or at left-back, and as Bleacher Report's own Adam Digby notes, Asamoah's ability to win the ball, pick out a pass and make driving runs forward with the ball at his feet make him an outstanding all-rounder.
Asamoah may not be a star name, but Arsenal would do well to snap him up if he's available.
With his acquisition, the Gunners would add energy, work-rate and yet more technical ability to their side.
For Arsenal to once again challenge for the Premier League title, Asamoah is the kind of player they need. Massimiliano Allegri will most likely want to keep hold of Asamoah, but Arsenal can and should use the lure of regular football to bring him to the Emirates.
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