Arsenal
Arsenal Set To Table €20m Bid For Tottenham Target
Arsenal will hope to try and beat Tottenham to the signing of Douglas Costa with a €20m bid for the unsettled Shakhtar Donetsk attacker, according to reports.
The summer transfer window is now open for business and it’s expected to be a busy few weeks as managers strengthen their squads ahead of next season, so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Arsenal are planning a bid for Tottenham target Douglas Costa.
Image: Express
Arsenal will hope to try and beat Tottenham to the signing of Douglas Costa with a €20m (£15.8m) bid for the unsettled Shakhtar Donetsk attacker, according to reports.
Costa’s future is currently cast in doubt as he’s one of six players who are refusing to go back to Ukraine for the start of the new season due to the on-going unrest with neighbours Russia.
The 23-year-old took to his personal Instagram page last week to express his concern at going back to play for Shakhtar and confirmed that he and his five team mates will remain in Switzerland until a resolution can be found.
Reports claim the Brazilian play-maker has asked for a move away, with Arsenal and Tottenham among the clubs who are understood to be keen on offering him an escape route.
However, it looks like the Gunners are ready to make the first move with the Metro claiming Arsene Wenger will test Shakhtar’s resolve with a €20m (£15.8m) bid for the player.
It remains to be seen whether the offer will be enough to persuade the Ukrainian champions to sell, but owner Rinat Akhmetov has previously insisted he wont be pressured into selling off his key players.
The fact Costa is keen for a move will go in Arsenal’s favour though, and Shakhtar will face a difficult decision if the north Londoners do come in with a formal bid, as is suggested in these reports.
Costa has been with Shakhtar for four-and-a-half years since joining from Gremio in January 2010 and has been a key member of the side that’s won five consecutive Ukrainian Premier League titles and two domestic trebles.
The Brazilian is predominantly an attacking midfielder, often operating from the right, but he’s also capable of playing at a striker and this may be where Arsene Wenger sees him playing should he make the move to the Emirates.
READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Spurs transfer news
It remains to be seen how Tottenham will respond to the news Arsenal are lining-up a formal bid, and Mauricio Pochettino may decide to make his interest official and battle it out with their fierce rivals for the players signature.
