Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Gunners eye Viktor Gyokeres, Odegaard position switch, Eddie Nketiah EXCLUSIVE – updates

Agent refuses to discuss details of Osimhen's 'confidential' contract

Victor Osimhen's agent has refused to entertain talk of a release clause.

The Napoli striker, 24, is a top target for Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal.

All three clubs are looking for a new striker, but the Nigerian has extended his stay in southern Italy for until 2026.

By which time he will be 29 years old, and the interest in him from England may have waned.

But infamously difficult Napoli owner Aurelio de Laurentiis has made it very difficult for other clubs to prise Osimhen out of their grasp.

Gift and the Gab

Gabriel Magalhaes and his stunning Wag Gabrielle Figueiredo have shared an adorable pic in front of the Christmas tree with their 18-month-old daughter and dog.

The Brazilian defender scored Arsenal's opener during their thrilling 1-1 draw at Anfield on Saturday.

And he has formed a formidable partnership with William Saliba at the heart of defence, which has formed the bedrock of Arsenal's table-topping exploits.

Saliba admission

William Saliba admits Arsenal were lucky to not have a penalty given against them in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool.

When asked about Martin Odegaard's handball, he said: ""Of course, of course, it was a penalty.

"But I am not the referee."

Osimhen hope

Victor Osimhen's agent has refused to rule out a summer exit for his client, who has been linked with a move to the Emirates.

Roberto Calenda said: “Look, last summer many offers arrived, even monstrous ones.

"But De Laurentiis wanted to keep Victor, and we made ourselves available.

“If there had been the desire to leave, we would have said so. And instead, we worked, and a lot, only upon renewal.

“And next summer, it will be the same: we will talk to De Laurentiis and see together what to do.”

Saka apology

Bukayo Saka has issued an apology to Kostas Tsimikas after he accidentally injured his collarbone in Sunday's 1-1 with Liverpool.

“I heard he has gone to hospital so obviously I want to apologise to him. I didn’t mean it of course.

“For me, it was a 50/50 and I have gone shoulder to shoulder with him.

"I didn’t see it but he must have taken a bad fall, I didn’t see him go into Jurgen Klopp either.

"I was focused on running forward because I didn’t think it was a foul. That’s my take on it.”

A Wright mess

Arsenal legend Ian Wright believes five players were to blame for their 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Saturday.

He said: “Yes, you would have liked to have seen more out of Odegaard, Saka and Martinelli.

“But, at the same time, for this team to go to Anfield, where this time last season the wheel started to fall off, and to come away with a draw is a good result.”

"Zinchenko and Jesus for Salah’s goal: Firstly, you can’t give Trent Alexander-Arnold that much space and you can’t let Mo Salah come back inside.

“You think to yourself, ‘this is the dangerman’. Get in his (Alexander-Arnold’s face before he passes it). Look at how close Jesus gets actually (when trying to press from the front). Try and deny him the ball in the first place. Let them pass it to someone else. 

“Once you get into this situation, with Mo Salah who wants to come inside, then Zinchenko knows this and not many people can stop him.

"You have to do a lot more. I don’t think Gabriel can come out because he has to guard that space. You can’t let him get inside that easy.

"It’s the margins that the manager always speaks about. You can’t give Salah and Trent that much time. That’s why we drew. We couldn’t stop that from happening.”

William Saliba's admission

Arsenal star William Saliba went viral after admitting Liverpool deserved a penalty on Saturday's 1-1 draw at Anfield.

The Reds felt they deserved the three points as they insist they were denied a clear penalty in the first half before Mohamed Salah's equaliser.

Salah tried to dribble past Martin Odegaard, who lost his balance and touched the ball with his left hand inside the North Londoners' area.

However, the referee waved play on and VAR didn't get involved which angered the hosts.

Saliba, who put together another man-of-the-match performance was asked about the incident involving Odegaard.

And the centre-back admitted outright that his captain handled the ball and Liverpool should have been awarded a spot-kick.

Saliba said: "Yeah, of course it was a penalty but I'm not the ref."

Ivan Toney alternatives

Arsenal have identified three other targets in case they miss out on Brentford star Ivan Toney.

According to The Athletic, Toney is part of a four-man shortlist which also includes Napoli's Victor Osimhen, Brighton's Evan Ferguson and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko.

However, it is unlikely a move will be made during the January transfer window.

The Gunners may have to wait until the summer to land one of those targets.

Arsenal target Goncalo Inacio

Arsenal are keeping tabs on Sporting Lisbon star Goncalo Inacio, reports SunSport's Jordan Davies.

SunSport understands the Gunners are unlikely to be very active in the January transfer window in terms of both incomings and outgoings.

But the North Londoners' manager Mikel Arteta is likely to prioritise reinforcements at the back in the summer with Inacio someone he is monitoring.

The centre-back made his senior Sporting debut as a teenager in 2020 and has risen to become one of the most exciting prospects in the Primeira Liga.

The 22-year-old has also broken into the Portugal national team under manager Roberto Martinez, earning his first cap back in March.

Consequently, Inacio has a £52million release clause in a contract that expires in 2027 and Sporting are prepared to hold out for an offer close to that value.

Premier League table

Arsenal are top of the Premier League table before Christmas.

The Gunners are one point ahead of second-placed Liverpool following Saturday's 1-1 draw at Anfield.

However, Manchester City have one game in hand after jetting off to Saudi Arabia to win the Club World Cup.

City are six points behind Mikel Arteta's high-fliers, more below:

Sir Jim Ratcliffe takeover confirmed

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has finally completed his 25 per cent takeover of Arsenal's Premier League rivals Manchester United.

Ratcliffe has completed a deal worth about £1.25billion with United's unpopular owners the Glazers.

Sir Jim is now set to be in charge of football operations at Old Trafford.

This new development poses as the dawn of a new era for the Red Devils!

January's Costliest Prem Buys XI ever

The January transfer window is only just around the corner, so SunSport thought it would be a good idea to remind fans of the cash splashed in the summer.

Huge sums were spent from a host of Premier League clubs ahead of the new season.

Here is an XI consisting of the most expensive players signed by English top flight sides in the summer.

Alisson hails 'amazing' Arsenal' front three'

Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker rates Arsenal's front three as "amazing".

But the Brazilian reckons centre-backs Ibrahima Konate and Virgil Van Dijk were up to the job of restraining Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus.

Alisson told Liverpool's website: “Ibou, everybody knows how strong he is, and he is improving season after season.

“He’s still young, as he is a big and strong man I think nobody realises that, but he is still young and he is improving, being a more mature player alongside Virgil.

"They did an amazing game, but not only them. They did an amazing game because everybody helped them to do their job.

“But in the one-v-one situations against [Gabriel] Martinelli, against [Bukayo] Saka, against Gabriel Jesus, they are amazing strikers, and the way they defended was amazing.”

Gunners still second title favourites

Fifth-placed champs Manchester City remain Prem title favourites.

City can cut the deficit on leaders Arsenal to three points if they win their game in hand at Everton on Wednesday.

But the Gunners then host West Ham the following evening.

Here are the Prem title odds from :

Manchester City: 5/4
Arsenal: 2/1
Liverpool: 3/1
Aston Villa: 20/1
Tottenham: 25/1

Seven potential super signings next month

SunSport has identified seven bargain January transfers for Premier League clubs.

One of them, AZ Alkmaar’s Vangelis Pavlidis, is outscoring Erling Haaland this season.

1. Maxence Caqueret, 23, CM, Lyon
2. Daizen Maeda, 26, RW, Celtic
3. Viktor Djukanovic, 19, LW, Hammarby
4. Kevin Denkey, 23, ST, Cercle Brugge
5. Bojan Miovski, 24, ST, Aberdeen
6. Sammie Szmodics, 28, ST, Blackburn Rovers
7. Vangelis Pavlidis, 25, ST, AZ Alkmaar

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL GUIDE TO EACH STAR
AND WHY THEY COULD BE A GREAT SIGNING

Lack of service so striking

Manchester United and Arsenal players are way down the list for the service to strikers this season.

And in fact United’s Rasmus Hojlund has received the fewest number of passes from any Prem attacker – just behind team-mate Anthony Martial.

Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus slots in at 12th on a list topped by Son Heung-min from big rivals Tottenham.

Nev: Gunners might need new main striker

Gary Neville believes Gabriel Jesus is like Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez - but still doubts he is good enough to be Arsenal's main striker.

Former Manchester United right-back Neville is unsure Jesus and Eddie Nketiah have the goal threat needed to dethrone Manchester City.

Nev : “I’ve found myself talking at the end of many Arsenal games this season now about whether Nketiah and Jesus are number one and two strikers in Premier League title-winning sides, or whether they’re actually more two and three strikers and they need that number one.

“I actually love Jesus, I really love him. Honestly, I think he’s a brilliant player, I’d love to play with him. He’s got a bit of Rooney in him, he’s got a bit of Tevez in him, he’s got sort of everything.

“But, he hasn’t got that sort of instinct in front of goal, and sometimes, he’s everywhere you don’t want him to be.”

Klopp hails 'exceptional' Gunners

Jurgen Klopp reckons Arsenal have reached an "exceptional" level.

But the German also believes his Liverpool side "shattered" the Prem leaders during a goalless second half in yesterday's 1-1 Anfield draw.

Klopp said: "Arsenal has the better start, with a corner and a free kick, they do that really well. We could have done better [with the goal], it was close, nearly offside.

"After that we really found a way into the game. After half time we should have scored. We had the moments, the high press was there too.

"Arsenal are really exceptional but for those 20 minutes we had them, we shattered them slightly. We felt that they were shaky and we should have used that."

Big Ben boost

RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko is reportedly keen on switching to the Premier League amid interest from Arsenal.

90Min suggest the Slovenian hero is considering his options after losing his regular place with his Bundesliga team.

A loan ahead of a permanent switch next summer is thought to be possible.