Arsenal have been dealt a major transfer blow in the wake of the news that Premier League rivals Manchester United are plotting a £100m bid for highly rated Benfica attacker Joao Felix ahead of this summer’s transfer window.

This was revealed by popular English news outlet The Sun.

Arsenal are one of several clubs to have registered their interest in the impressive Joao Felix who has been in sensational form for Portuguese Super League outfit Benfica since the start of the season.

He has scored nine goals and also provided five assists in 23 appearances for Benfica this term.

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Joao Felix has scored and also provided a goal in each of his last three games for Benfica to further underline his immense talent.

Arsenal are cash-strapped at the moment with recent reports claiming that the Gunners will be able to spend just £45m, excluding player sales, when the transfer window reopens in the summer.

The Gunners won’t be able to contest with Manchester United and other interested teams in the race to sign Joao Felix who says Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is his idol.

Arsenal were only restricted to loan signings during the last transfer window.

Other clubs like Juventus, Liverpool, Wolverhampton Wanderers and many more are also keen on a move for Joao Felix who has a release clause of £105m (€120m) in his Benfica contract.

Manchester United were rebuffed in their quest to sign Juventus winger Douglas Costa during the winter transfer window but the Red Devils can still sign the player according to reports coming out of the media in Italy.

It’s no secret that Manchester United want to strengthen both the centre back and right wing positions ahead of the resumption of the transfer window in the summer.

Reports claimed that Manchester United made a €60m bid for Brazilian international star Douglas Costa after they had identified him as their number one target in the right wing position.

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The big bid was rebuffed by Juventus who wanted to hold on to Douglas Costa until the summer at least.

Italian media outlet Tuttosport claim that there’s light at the end of the tunnel for Manchester United in their bid to sign Douglas Costa.

It was revealed that the Italians would be open to a sale if they can get Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba in exchange.

Manchester United consider French World Cup winner Paul Pogba as a big part of their future plans and that means the proposed swap deal won’t happen.

Paul Pogba spent four fruitful years at Juventus between 2012 and 2016 before Manchester United splashed £89m to sign him.

Three-time European champions Manchester United could have signed highly rated Newcastle United defender Jamaal Lascelles during the winter transfer window.

This is according to the sources close to ESPN.

It was revealed that the 25-year-old was on the list of the transfer targets at Manchester United while former manager Jose Mourinho was still at the club.

Italian Serie A stars like Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli) and Milan Skriniar (Inter Milan) were the top targets on the said transfer list but Lascelles was also on it.

Jamal Lascelles is a key player for the Magpies having joined the Northeast club from hometown team Nottingham Forest in 2014.

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The English centre back signed for Newcastle United from the former European champions alongside compatriot and shot stopper Karl Darlow.

He was named the Newcastle United captain shortly after the Magpies suffered relegation from the Premier League in 2016.

Jamaal Lascelles led his team back to the English top flight at the start of last season before helping the Magpies to a top-10 finish at the end of the league campaign.

He recently signed a new contract at Newcastle United until the end of the 2023/24 season.

Lascelles has played 22 times for Newcastle United in the Premier League this season.

Manchester United are one of several Premier League clubs targeting a free transfer move for FC Porto forward Yacine Brahimi according to the various media reports emanating from Portugal.

Portuguese media outlet Correio da Manha claim that the Red Devils have already offered the Algerian international star a contract for him to join them on a free agent at the end of the season.

Other Premier League sides like Arsenal, West Ham United and Everton are also in the running to sign the 28-year-old.

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Yacine Brahimi has less than six months remaining on his current deal at FC Porto and he’s not expected to renew his contract at the Estadio Dragao.

The Algerian winger has been an important player for FC Porto since he joined the club in 2014 shortly after his heroics at the FIFA World Cup tournament in Brazil.

Brahimi was part of the Algerian team that posted the best result for Africa via a last 16 place before they were beaten 2-1 by eventual champions Germany after extra time.

He has scored nine goals and provided six assists for FC Porto.

Yacine Brahimi was in the starting XI as FC Porto fell to a 2-1 loss to Italian Serie A club AS Roma in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday night.

Manchester United have reportedly drawn up a transfer shortlist of six players ahead of the upcoming transfer window in the summer.

This is according to the Daily Mirror which revealed that chief executive Ed Woodward has compiled a six-man transfer shortlist for this summer’s transfer window.

A new centre back is the top priority for Manchester United this summer alongside the fullback positions, both left-back and right-back.

Manchester United are also expected to strengthen their midfield options this summer.

Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly is on top of the list with the Red Devils hopeful that they can pull off a deal for him at the end of this summer.

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Manchester United might have to spend a club-record transfer fee to seal his transfer.

The Senegalese international player is widely regarded as one of the top three centre backs in world football.

Atletico Madrid defender Lucas Hernandez and Fiorentina star Nikola Milenkovic also made the shortlist.

Both Hernandez and Milenkovic can play at centre back and fullback but the latter represents a cheaper option than the other player who was part of the French squad that won last summer’s FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia.

Others on the transfer shortlist include Tanguy Ndombele (Lyon), Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) and Joao Felix (Benfica).

Paris Saint Germain (PSG) midfielder Adrien Rabiot could join Manchester United as a free agent this summer after it was revealed that the Red Devils have offered him a contract after talks were held between both parties.

Spanish media outlet Don Balon revealed that Manchester United have offered the player a contract for him to sign for the Red Devils on a free transfer.

Manchester United have moved to snap up the talented midfielder ahead of other interested clubs like Arsenal, Barcelona, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur.

€50m-rated Adrien Rabiot will leave PSG in the summer after the end of his contract having already rejected several opportunities to extend his contract at the club beyond this summer.

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As a result of his decision not to sign a new deal, the 23-year-old has been frozen out of the PSG team with his last appearance coming in December.

He last featured for PSG as a second-half substitute in the Champions League final group stage clash with Red Star Belgrade.

PSG won the game 3-1 to seal top spot at the end of proceedings in Group C.

Real Madrid are said to be the new favourites for his signature as the Los Merengues see him as a cheaper alternative for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Christian Eriksen or Manchester United player Paul Pogba.

Premier League giants Manchester United will step up their interest in highly rated Benfica attacker Joao Felix this summer according to reports coming out of the media in the United Kingdom.

Joao has grown to become one of the most exciting young players in European football after his series of impressive performances for his Portuguese club.

The Portugal u-21 international attacker has scored nine goals in addition to five assists in 23 appearances in the colours of Benfica this season.

The Sun claim that the Red Devils will make a big bid for the 19-year-old when the transfer window reopens in the summer.

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Joao Felix was the subject of a £61m bid from Premier League title challengers Liverpool only for Benfica to reject it in favour of the player’s full release clause which stands at €120m (£105m).

He recently put pen to paper on a new Benfica contract until the end of the 2022/23 season.

The player recently talked about a possible exit from Benfica in his last interview before hinting that he could join his idol Cristiano Ronaldo at Italian Serie A champions Juventus.

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers are all interested in a move for the in-form player.

The emerging report claims that Belgium international Eden Hazard has given his potential club Real Madrid his personal terms before he can accept to seal a deal with the club.

It is understood that the star player will be leaving the West London outfit Chelsea at the end of the season after he refused to sign a deal to extend his stay at the club.

He has openly confessed his love for the La Liga outfit and that is the major but that does not mean he will not give them his own terms that must be met before sealing the deal.

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However, it is reported that Eden Hazard has demanded £15 million as his signing fee that must be paid by Real Madrid while he is requesting for £17 million net in wages annually to make him the highest paid player at the club.

It is therefore not clear if Real Madrid will hand him his request but there are suggestions that the Spanish outfit are already considering the offer and hope to return with feedback soon.

Meanwhile, there are speculations that Eden Hazard will have a change of mind on his transfer to Real Madrid should Zinedine Zidane joins Chelsea as speculated.

Chelsea could finally part ways with Nigerian international and young full-back Ola Aina as Serie A outfit Torino are pushing to have him on a permanent deal at the end of the season.

Ola Aina is currently having a long-season loan with the Italian outfit but they seem to be enjoying his service and seek to land him in the coming summer window.

It is understood that the Serie A outfit have an option in the loan deal to sign the Nigerian international on a permanent deal for a fee of £9 million which they are ready to pay.

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Ola Aina was made to leave the West London outfit as it is obvious that he could not beat the competition in the team to secure regular playing time but he is being tipped by the club to become a world class player which is why he as handed the opportunity to secure more playing time away.

He has therefore been impressive for Torino, scoring his first goal for the club on Sunday in their 1-0 win against Udinese.

It is therefore not sure if the West London outfit will sanction a move for Ola Aina on a permanent deal as they could have need for him in the future.

There are suggestions that there could be a twist in the transfer deal of Belgium international Eden Hazard if the West London outfit Chelsea decide to make a decision as regards manager Maurizio Sarri.

It is understood that Eden Hazard has already made up his mind top join quit the West London outfit to the Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid after confessing his love for the club.

However, that could change if the Italian boss is sacked at the Stamford Bridge and former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is brought in immediately.

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The future of the former Napoli boss has been under doubt with suggestions that he could be sacked after seeing his side humiliated by 6-0 against Man City in the Premier League clash.

The former Real Madrid boss has been rumoured to be wanted at the Stamford Bridge after reports claim that the Blues chiefs have already held a discussion on how to go about it.

It is understood that Eden Hazard is a big fan of the former World Best Footballer and could have a change of mind to play under him at the Stamford Bridge should the Blues owner Abramovich land him before the end of the season.