Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Alvaro Morata and Takuma Asano Rumours

Arsenal are reportedly willing to double Alvaro Morata's wages if the Real Madrid striker agrees to a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer. Meanwhile, the Gunners are ready to complete the signature of Japanese youngster Takuma Asano.

Football Insider's Tom Blackburn cited a report from Spanish newspaper AS that claimed Arsenal are ready to offer the forward £144,000 a week, which is more than top earners Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez rake in.

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According to Blackburn, Ozil boasts the north London outfit's biggest salary packet at £140,000 a week, while Sanchez earns just slightly less than that on his £130,000-a-week terms.

At the end of June, the Guardian's Fabrizio Romano suggested that Chelsea were out of the hunt to sign Morata due to their rising interest in Michy Batshuayi, who has since completed a £33 million switch to Stamford Bridge: 

Morata is widely expected to leave Real for a second time in his career after Los Blancos took advantage of a €30 million (£25 million) buyback clause in his Juventus contract earlier this summer.

That being said, Arsenal may be reassessing their recruitment plans to sign a striker after Olivier Giroud's impressive performances for France at Euro 2016, as noted by the Mirror's John Cross:

The Evening Standard (h/t Blackburn) also provided recent quotes from Morata's agent, Juanma Lopez, who spoke to AS and opened up about the attacker's chances of leaving the Santiago Bernabeu: “He still has offers from top clubs in the Premier League. As things stand he is a Madrid player from July 1. Whether he will stay or not, you have to ask Real Madrid.”

Arsenal moved quickly to sign midfielder Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach earlier this summer, and many fans might still see a striker as a priority in their renovation plans.

Elsewhere, Japan international Asano is understood to have completed his move to north London from J-League side Sanfrecce Hiroshima, per Charlie Phillippe of the Daily Express.

Bleacher Report's Dean Jones reported that the move was close to being sealed prior to any official announcement, although it's thought he's likely to be farmed out elsewhere on temporary terms:

The 21-year-old will be hoping to fare better than ex-Arsenal starlet and Japanese compatriot Ryo Miyaichi, who moved to German side St. Pauli last year after making just seven senior appearances for Arsenal in a four-year spell.

Asano scored seven goals in 20 appearances for his club last season and has earned five caps for Japan since winning his senior international debut last year.