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Arsenal Transfer News: Danilo Pereira Bid Made, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Rumours
April 13, 2016
Arsenal have seen an initial bid for Porto midfielder Danilo Pereira rejected, according to the latest reports, while it's emerged the Gunners could be "prepared to sell" Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Portuguese newspaper Correio de Manha reported Arsenal will be expected to increase their offer for Danilo if they hope to sign the player, with Porto demanding his £31.7 million release clause be triggered (h/t Metro's Mark Brus).
It's long been held aged trio Mikel Arteta, 34, Tomas Rosicky, 35, and Mathieu Flamini, 32, will leave the Emirates Stadium this summer, and engine-room reinforcements will be required should they take their leave.
The agent of Danilo—a defensive midfielder gaining a big reputation in his native Portugal—has suggested La Liga outfits are also interested in his client, per the Sun's Toby Gannon, who also cited Correio de Manha: "Danilo appeals to many clubs, both Spanish and English, but at the moment his future is not set."
Francis Coquelin has risen to become a crucial figure in manager Arsene Wenger's midfield since emerging as a first-team star in 2015, but the club has been found short on numbers contending against injuries this season.
Danilo, 24, may be deemed expensive at a cost in excess of £30 million, but Metro's Primeira Liga expert Jan Hagen recently confirmed Arsenal certainly appear to be hot on the player's tail, citing Portuguese publication A Bola:
Meanwhile, Oxlade-Chamberlain could be one of the players culled this season as Wenger looks to make major renovations at the Emirates, with Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs also reportedly on the chopping block.
That's according to the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel, although the former pair are "reluctant to leave Arsenal," said James Olley of the London Evening Standard.
The list of Premier League clubs registering interest in Oxlade-Chamberlain looks to be growing, and Mokbel mentioned Manchester City, Liverpool, West Ham United and former club Southampton as monitoring his situation.
The Hammers may be considered a more plausible destination for the midfielder following their rise this season, and Bleacher Report's Dean Jones recently discussed the prospect of a move to Upton Park:
Oxlade-Chamberlain has struggled to claim a consistent spot in Wenger's XI this season and is currently fighting for fitness following a leg injury in February. The 22-year-old has made 17 starts in all competitions this season.
Arsenal would be taking a major risk cashing in on so many homegrown players, but frustrations with the former starlet—and others—appear to be reaching boiling point.