Most Popular Sports
All Sports
Show All

Paper Round: Dortmund want Batshuayi permanently, Arsenal youngster targeted by Celtic

Pete Sharland

Updated 23/04/2018 at 06:12 GMT

Borussia Dortmund want to sign Michy Batshuayi permanently and an Arsenal youngster is being targeted by Celtic. It's Monday's Paper Round.

Borussia Dortmund’s Michy Batshuayi celebrates scoring their third goa

Image credit: Reuters

Dortmund want Batshuayi

We start with quotes from Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke who has told Bild that the club want to sign Michy Batshuayi permanently. The 24-year-old has been in excellent form on loan from Chelsea.
Paper Round's view: Batshauyi has settled in very well at Dortmund and it was a shame that injury cut his season short. With Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud scoring for Chelsea perhaps it's best for Batshuayi to move away from Stamford Bridge?

Arsenal's Okonkwo wanted by Celtic and RB Leipzig

We move to The Mirror who have a report that Arsenal youngster Arthur Okonkwo is being targeted by Celtic and RB Leipzig. The 16-year-old goalkeeper, who is extremely highly thought of at the club, is yet to sign a new deal as the Gunners take a new approach to contracts and could end up moving on.
Paper Round's view: Taking a hard line for contracts is generally a good policy but if it means losing a young star is it really worth it? Paper Round will admit to having not seen Okonkwo but another talented youngster moving abroad would be exciting.

Spurs confident Poch will stay

We end with a couple of exclusives from The Sun and the first is that Tottenham Hotspur are confident that Mauricio Pochettino will stay on as manager. Some of Pochettino's quotes after the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United had been interpreted as a sign he might leave. However the Sun's report says that the club are not concerned about the comments.
Paper Round's view: Pochettino is a hugely talented manager with an exciting young squad. Silverware will come.

Benitez wants King

And the second Sun exclusive is that Rafa Benitez wants the financial backing from Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to sign Josh King from Bournemouth in a deal that could be worth £20 million.
Paper Round's view: Newcastle have to realise that keeping Benitez should be a priority. The Spaniard has done a terrific job and he needs to be backed in the transfer market to ensure he signs a new deal.
Join 3M+ users on app
Stay up to date with the latest news, results and live sports
Download
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement