Paper Round: Arsenal back Arsene Wenger with £50m war chest

Arsene Wenger to be given £50m to spend this summer: While the back pages have been full of gloom over Arsene Wenger's future as Arsenal manager, the Daily Telegraph reports that the Gunners will back the boss - to the tune of £50m. The paper claims that far from axe the failing Frenchman, Arsenal will hand Wenger a solid budget to sign a central midfielder, centre-back and goalkeeper. Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin currently heads the list of target, the paper claims.

Paper Round's view: This looks like the Arsenal hierarchy doubling down. And who can tell if that's a good plan or not? Wenger has looked dead and buried before but always seems to survive his crises, and almost certainly will continue to do so. And given that they'll back him it's undoubtedly best for all concerned if Arsenal back him properly - half-baked support without money to spend will mean nothing.

- - -

De Gea looking set to stay at Old Trafford: The Daily Star reports that David de Gea looks set to agree a new contract at Manchester United, despite perennial links to Real Madrid and rumours of a rift with United boss Louis van Gaal. The story quotes De Gea himself saying, "I think this is the best period of my career. I am playing the best football that I've ever played… Everything that has been written in the press about us not getting on is a lie. We both want the best for the club and the team, and the stories are complete lies."

Paper Round's view: Well, what else could De Gea possibly say? Just imagine if he gave a truly honest answer: "Van Gaal is a crazed dictator whose policies are failing all of us, so the sooner someone from the Bernabeu gets in touch with me the better." As hilarious and refreshing as that would be, it's simply not the done thing to complain openly about your employer. No matter how badly they're losing the plot, and no matter how tempting your escape route.

- - -

Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool on red alert for Sami Khedira: The Daily Star reports that 27-year-old Germany midfielder Sami Khedira is back on everyone's radar - well, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool radars anyway - after Schalke boss Roberto di Matteo suggested that they would be keen to bring him to the Bundesliga. "If he wants to join us our doors are open," said Di Matteo.

Paper Round's view: Ahh, the Khedira saga. We'd almost forgotten about this one, but with Marco Reus's future apparently assured, and David de Gea's looking like it's going that way, we need a new transfer story soap opera. And given that the German World Cup winner has just three months left on his contract at Real Madrid, he fits the bill perfectly. So this story - which amounts to nothing more than a few words from Di Matteo with a few big English clubs stuffed in the headline - is exactly the sort of garbage you can expect from the back pages over the next few months.

- - -

PSG playing hardball over Manchester United target: Manchester United are still desperate to sign PSG defender Marquinhos, according to the Daily Mail - but the French club are apparently equally desperate to hang on to the 20-year-old centre-back. The paper claims that the player is "among the most highly rated young talents in world football" and that even a £30 million bid from United won't be enough. "PSG view him as a long-term mainstay of their defence and the French club do not wish to sell… it will require an offer that usurps the £30m that they paid for Rio Ferdinand in 2002 and the £40m that Manchester City are reported to have shelled out for Eliaquim Mangala last summer. Even a British record fee for a defender, however, may not be enough to persuade PSG to sell, with the club so far resolute in their determination to brush off United's interest."

Paper Round's view: This is an interesting one. United's cash means nothing to PSG, given their own riches. And while once upon a time United could rest assured that their reputation and brilliance would induce the player himself to agitate for a move, it no longer looks that way. If PSG win this battle it'll mark a huge victory in their quest to join the top echelon of the European elite - and a huge blow to United's hopes of staying in that exalted company.

- - -

Stoke want Victor Moses on permanent basis: The Daily Express reports that Mark Hughes wants Chelsea to let the Potters sign Victor Moses this summer. "He is only on a season-long loan from Chelsea but Hughes is hopeful the Londoners will agree to a £7 million sale in the summer or another 12-month arrangement at the very least," reports the paper.

Paper Round's view: It's hard to believe that Moses is still just 24 - his emergence at Crystal Palace feels like it could have been a decade ago now, and only now does it feel that we're beginning to see his full potential. He's been excellent for Stoke this season though and Chelsea will surely do a deal - after all, if Jose Mourinho is happy to jettison World Cup winners like Andre Schuerrle because their faces don't fit, what chance of a Stamford Bridge happy ending is there for Moses?

- - -