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ARSENAL are preparing for the return of the Premier League, but Mikel Arteta admits they have a number of transfer plans depending on how the coronavirus crisis turns out.

And one of their previous transfer plans which fell through was that of Jamie Vardy, who rejected the club after sitting down with Arsene Wenger to finalise a deal in 2016.

Get all the latest Gunners news and gossip here…

  • SO NEAR YET SO VAR

    Jamie Vardy had all but agreed to join Arsenal in 2016… until he met Arsene Wenger.

    Former Gunners transfer negotiator Dick Law told The Athletic: “The deal with Leicester was done, the deal with the player was done.

    “He came down to visit with his wife Rebekah, he sat on the couch in front of Arsene…and then he backed off.

    “On his way back to Leicester I get a call from the player saying he wants to think about it overnight.

    “At that point, you know it’s bad news.”

  • KUR-VE BALL

    The Gunners are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign PSG left-back Layvin Kurwaza.

    He was linked with a move in January due to Sead Kolasinac and Kieran Tierney's injuries.

    Barcelona were also thought to be keen but Spanish outlet TodoFichajes reckon it is Arsenal who will land him this summer with a five-year deal reportedly already agreed.

    Kurwaza would arrive on a free transfer with his deal at the Ligue 1 champions expiring at the end of the season.

  • GOOD MORNING ARSENAL FANS

    Arsenal are close to becoming the first Premier League side to agree a pay cut for their players.

    A 12.5 per cent reduction in their monthly pay packet will help the club ease the financial blow of the coronavirus crisis.

    Premier League rebels were silenced as the split between clubs over ending the season early was laid bare.

    Yesterday's meeting of the 20 teams saw one Big Six executive call out the sides who proposed a June 30 finish date.

    The leading club chief tore into them on the video call to demand they stick with the League’s position of playing out the season.

    In an outburst that signalled the anger of the Big Six — Manchester United, City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham — the exec told them: “Our aim is to finish this season and protect the start of next season.

    “Everybody should get on board and those who don’t, or who are suggesting other things, are being totally disingenuous and unbelievable.”

    Top-flight players could be asked to turn up for training already in their KIT to avoid changing rooms and may then get Covid-19 tests in their cars as soon as they arrive.

    Arsenal were the unlucky losers in a new-data driven simulation of the 2019/20 Premier League season.

    The project undertaken by FiveThirtyEight sees previous team data collated to simulate the remaining games of the season and produce a final Premier League table for the campaign currently suspended because of coronavirus.

    In North London, Spurs' 55 points was enough to beat Arsenal, on 53, to eighth place and claim a Europa League spot.

    Ex-Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov warned Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, linked with moves away from the Emirates, against joining Barcelona or Real Madrid.

    The Bulgarian said: “You have to ask if Aubameyang is happy at Arsenal and, if he isn’t, I can understand why. Football is about winning trophies and we all know Arsenal are a team that play attractive football but in the end they have been left empty-handed quite a lot of times.

    “Would Aubameyang play much in either of those squads? He’s not getting any younger, he needs to be at a club where he is going to play.”

    Reports reckon the Gunners are close to signing PSG's Layvin Kurwaza for free on a five-year deal when his contract ends in the summer.

    And finally, Arsenal and Chelsea could be feeling rather sheepish if they fail to land Gabriel Magalhaes in the summer.

    That is because Lille president Gerard Lopez reckons the star defender will join a “really big club”.

    He told Sky Sports: “He’s well on his way – if not this year – to potentially a really big club. I’m certain he’s on his way to the Brazilian national team at some point.”

  • NOT UNITED

    Premier League rebels were silenced as the split between clubs over ending the season early was laid bare.

    Today's meeting of the 20 teams saw one Big Six executive call out the sides who proposed a June 30 finish date.

    They were considering asking for a full debate on a forced closure amid concern over around 80 Prem players’ contracts expiring and causing “chaos”.

    But instead the leading club chief tore into them on the video call to demand they stick with the League’s position of playing out the season.

    In an outburst that signalled the anger of the Big Six — Manchester United, City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham — the exec told them: “Our aim is to finish this season and protect the start of next season.

    “Everybody should get on board and those who don’t, or who are suggesting other things, are being totally disingenuous and unbelievable.”

    A Prem spokesperson said: “It is our objective to complete the 2019-20 season but all dates are tentative while the impact of Covid-19 develops.”

  • 'CONCERNED'

    The number of footballers contacting the PFA for help with mental health problems has “spiked” since the game was forced into lockdown.

    In the first three months of this year, 299 players contacted the Professional Footballers Association.

    This compares to a total of 653 for the whole of 2019.

    The game in England has been suspended since March 13 and shows no sign of returning anytime soon.

    That has led to huge concern within the union over the wellbeing of footballers, many of whom are struggling to cope without any routine in their lives, have worries over their finances and are gambling as they have nothing else to do.

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