Patrick Vieira may have hinted at role if Arsenal takeover is completed as wonderkid signs deal


Here’s all the news from around the Emirates Stadium over the past 24 hours.

Balogun signs

Arsenal have confirmed that Folarin Balogun has signed a contract extension with the club.

The 19-year-old has impressed this season in limited first team appearances averaging a goal every 63 minutes in the Europa League this season.

And now Balogun has committed his future to the club he has been at since the age of eight by putting pen to paper on an agreement that will last until 2025.

“It’s great that Flo will continue to be with us,” said Arsenal’s technical director Edu.

“He is a very promising young talent and has already shown so much quality in his performances. We are all looking forward to working with him during his continued development in the coming years.”

“We have been extremely impressed with Flo this season,” added Mikel Arteta.

“He has continually shown his natural ability in many training sessions with us and we have been equally impressed with his early integration into the first-team squad on match days.”

Read more.

Edu planning firesale

Arsenal will look to sell at least four players this summer in a bid to raise funds for new signings, football.london understands.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is keen on signing Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid on a permanent deal this summer, while the right-back and left-back positions will also look to be strengthened.

Departures will be on the cards this summer with Arsenal open to selling Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Eddie Nketiah, while Hector Bellerin is keen on leaving the club if the right opportunity arises.

In addition, Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira are both expected to be sold in a bid to raise funds.

Meanwhile, a large number of youngsters will leave the club this summer, as Arsenal aim to trim down their bloated academy set-up.

Full story.

Vieira hint?

Perhaps the biggest news surrounding Arsenal at the minute is a potential takeover bid from Swedish billionaire and co-founder of the music streaming device Spotify, Daniel Ek.

Last Friday, he declared his interest in buying the club from Stan Kroenke.

“As a kid growing up, I’ve cheered for @Arsenal as long as I can remember,” Ek wrote on Twitter. “If KSE would like to sell Arsenal I’d be happy to throw my hat in the ring.”



Daniel Ek wants to buy Arsenal from Stan Kroenke. (Image: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Daniel Ek wants to buy Arsenal from Stan Kroenke. (Image: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

ITV News have since claimed an official announcement of a £1.8bn takeover attempt of the north London club could be launched ‘within days’.

This is after The Telegraph reported that Arsenal legends Thierry Henry along with Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira, could now be involved in a possible takeover bid.

But what role would the latter have if the bid is successful?

Well, Vieira still has the desire to be a manager.

“This desire to be in training, this adrenaline on the bench… I know and I am convinced I was made for it,” he said amid talk of getting the Crystal Palace job. “My ambition is to have a very good career as a coach. I am determined. And we are only at the beginning.

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“I will give myself the means to succeed. As a player, I have always looked for things, I have always fought. It will be the same in this job. I’ll go get what I want. I want to go to the very highest level.

“When I interact with Arsene and he tells me he has observed me and that I can be successful – these are the things that comfort me.

“And one of the first sentences he said was: ‘You’re never a real coach until you get fired.'”

Could this be a hint as to what is in store for Vieira if he helps Ek seize control of Arsenal from Kroenke?





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