Chelsea 'tried very hard' to hijack Arsenal's move for Gabriel Jesus before signing Raheem Sterling

Arsenal despite failing to make a competitive appearance for the club since his 2019 arrival.The central defender, now 21, joined the club from Saint-Etienne where he returned on loan before spells with Nice and Marseille - before finally impressing Mikel Arteta.With the Spaniard insisting that the France international is now ready to compete in the Premier League with two years left on his current deal - agent Djibril Niang has travelled to London.READ MORE: Aaron Ramsdale calls Oleksandr Zinchenko 'Zinky Winky' during new Arsenal star's initiation songPosting an Instagram story of the menu at the Nobu Hotel in London, Gunners fans may well get excited about the prospect of Saliba staying in the first-team on a long term basis.Journalist Freddie Paxton recently reported that Saliba had agreed a new deal with the club after positive talks ahead of the US tour - in which he has impressed his manager.Saliba played the full fixture as Arsenal demolished London rivals Chelsea in Florida Cup on Saturday evening (July 23) - with Gabriel Jesus also starring.

Cristiano Ronaldo would be a worse signing than Romelu Lukaku was if the club changed their mind, according to Chelsea legend Pat Nevin.The Blues have shipped £97.5million man Lukaku back off to Inter Milan for the season following his drab return to Stamford Bridge, with Ronaldo linked as a replacement option after he made it clear he wants to leave Manchester United.When they were presented with the opportunity to sign the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, Chelsea's hierarchy didn't express an interest - and their former winger Nevin believes it should stay that way, as like Lukaku, he's not suited to their style of play.READ MORE: Win 2 tickets to watch England vs Germany in Nations League action at Wembley Stadium Speaking to BonusCodeBets, he said: "I think Ronaldo would be even more of a poor fit than Lukaku was for Chelsea. "When Lukaku signed last season, people thought he would be the missing link but I thought by signing him, Thomas Tuchel was throwing his style of play out the window, if indeed it was Thomas who signed him.

Chelsea fans have begged Alphonso Davies to pack his bags and join the Blues from Bayern Munich after he admitted he was a Blues fan as a youngster.Davies has emerged as one of the best full-backs on the planet during his stay in Bavaria. But when asked if he had to support a team in the UK by ESPN, the Canadian was quick to respond.He said: "I mean, I grew up watching Chelsea.

Mikel Arteta wanted Jurgen Klopp's right-hand man Pep Lijnders to join him at Arsenal when he replaced Unai Emery as manager back in 2019.Lijnders, who has been Liverpool's assistant manager since 2014 (save for the four month period in 2018 where he left to manage Dutch side NEC), revealed in his new book 'Intensity' that Arteta - who was Pep Guardiola's assistant for four years at Manchester City - approached him after noticing how much of an impact Lijnders had on Klopp's team."Mikel Arteta had asked me to be his assistant manager when he was preparing for his new step into management," Lijnders wrote.READ MORE: Arsenal chief Edu hints Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil were "killing" Gunners"We were together years earlier on the Pro Licence course, [though] his request came out of nothing. Mikel had said he felt: 'There was just a difference playing Liverpool before and after you came in'."This was the biggest compliment I ever got from somebody, I think, but I politely said no to him."The Dutchman admitted he was tempted by the "crazy" thought of both Guardiola and Klopp's assistants joining forces, but with Liverpool weeks away from sealing their first ever Premier League title at the time, leaving wasn't an option.Would Arsenal be a top four team if Pep Lijnders had become Mikel Arteta's assistant? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.The task facing Arteta at Arsenal isn't too dissimilar to the one Klopp and Lijnders faced back at Anfield back in 2015.

Arsenal - three years after joining the club. The French defender, 21, joined the Gunners from Saint-Etienne for £27million in the summer of 2019.

Arsenal signing Oleksandr Zinchenko's initiation song. Zinchenko joined the Gunners from Manchester City on a four-year deal for a reported fee of £30million earlier this week.

Thomas Tuchel has made a brutal admission in a rant after his side let four in to Arsenal in a preseason friendly.Chelsea played London rivals Arsenal in the Blues' final game of their preseason tour which capped off an underwhelming three games. Mikel Arteta's side were 2-0 up at halftime thanks to goals from new boy Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard with the Gunners doubling their lea thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka and Albert Sambi Lokonga in the second half as the North London side ran rampant in front of just under 64,000 fans in Orlando.

These are your Manchester City evening headlines on Sunday, July 24.

Arsenal on Saturday night has left rival fans delighted as the Blues' pre-season preparations hit a new low point.Thomas Tuchel's men had already lost to MLS side Charlotte in a dire penalty shootout defeat. They were unable to bounce back from that disappointment when they faced Arsenal at Orlando's Camping World Stadium.It took just 15 minutes for Gabriel Jesus to open the scoring, with the Brazilian dinking the ball over Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy.

Arsenal fans have been left salivating over the prospect of Gabriel Jesus starring in the Premier League after his outrageous chip kick-started a 4-0 win over Chelsea. The Blues fielded a near full strength line-up that included the likes of Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, Reece James and Edouard Mendy as Thomas Tuchel looked to beat their London rivals in the Florida Cup on Saturday evening (July 23).Mikel Arteta also opted to play his best available XI with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard in behind new star signing Gabriel Jesus - who didn't need long to make a mark.

Chelsea have an agreement in place to leave Romelu Lukaku at Inter Milan for an extra year to all but end his future at Stamford BridgeThe Belgian striker re-joined the Serie A giants on a season-long loan in June, just 10 months on from his blockbuster £97.5million move to west London.Lukaku fell out with Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel after accusing the German of misusing him tactically during an ill-fated interview with Italian TV in December - during which he also promised to return to Inter - and spent most of the latter half of the season warming the Blues' bench.READ MORE: Romelu Lukaku ordered on diet at Inter after returning from Chelsea 'too heavy'Keen to put the sorry saga behind him, Tuchel greenlit Lukaku's escape back to Italy, and it appears he's more than happy for him to stay there following news that Chelsea and Inter have an agreement in principal to extend the 29-year-old's loan move by an extra season.Lukaku still has four years left to run on his Chelsea contract, but it's understood that all ties between player and club have effectively been severed following his dismal return last season, where he netted just eight league goals.The Blues wanted Lukaku to leave permanently, but his £200-a-week wages and mammoth price-tag proved too much of a stumbling block.How many goals will Lukaku score this season for Inter Milan? Let us know in the comments section below.Since returning to the San Siro, Lukaku has been put on a special regimented diet as well as an intense fitness programme after turning up in Italy overweight.The former Manchester United and Everton man was at the peak of his powers during his two-year stint with Inter, scoring 64 goals in 95 games before being tempted back to England by

Your Manchester City evening headlines for Saturday, July 23.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has been told if he continues to attempt to build a new-look defence with players from abroad it will cost his side a chance of winning the league. The Blues lost Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen at the start of the summer when their contracts expired, with Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso linked with moves to Barcelona too. Thus, the priority at Stamford Bridge has been signing defenders.Kalidou Koulibaly was announced as the club’s first defensive recruit, joining from Napoli in a deal worth £33million, whilst they are edging closer to securing long-term target Jules Kounde from Sevilla.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he is delighted to have signed Manchester City defender Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Jack Grealish has been told that he will benefit from Raheem Sterling's move to Chelsea this summer. Sterling had been an integral part of Pep Guardiola's success in Manchester but was convinced by Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel to move to Stamford Bridge in search of a more prominent first team role.

Brad Pitt and various other celebrities on the red carpet after jetting home from Chelsea's pre-season tour.The Albanian striker was tipped to challenge for a first-team spot at Stamford Bridge this term after an impressive stint on loan at Southampton last season, where he bagged nine goals in all competitions.But the 20-year-old is being courted by a host of Premier League clubs - and Broja appears to have decided his long-term future lies away from Chelsea. After linking up late with the Blues squad on their pre-season tour of the United States, Broja has returned to London and is now edging closer to a permanent exit from the club.READ MORE: Thomas Tuchel blasts flop Timo Werner over exit demands due to huge Chelsea wagesBroja was snapped on the red carpet in London in midweek, as Pitt's new film, Bullet Train, received it's UK premiere.

Thomas Tuchel has hit back at Timo Werner by stating the Chelsea flop should be content with his mammoth wages.Werner, 26, pockets an eye-watering £270k-a-week at Stamford Bridge following his mega-money move from RB Leipzig in 2020 but the German international has hinted his future could lie away from west London. Starting just 15 Premier League matches last season, Werner was ousted by Romelu Lukaku's £97.5m return and continued to misfire in front of goal.The forward registered just four goals in the top-flight over the course of the 2021/22 season and is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench once again after Tuchel bagged top target Raheem Sterling in the transfer window.READ MORE: Chelsea told to "get rid" of Timo Werner and sign Romelu Lukaku's favourite old team-mateEarlier in the week, Werner admitted a lack of game could see him leave the club in the summer window, whilst also aiming a subtle jibe at Tuchel.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has described Oleksandr Zinchenko as "an exceptional footballer" as the Ukrainian's transfer from Manchester City nears completion.

Chelsea star Conor Gallagher produced a Panenka penalty attempt so bad that fans questioned if their defeat to Charlotte FC was "fixed".Thomas Tuchel's side stepped up their pre-season preparations with a match against the MLS outfit on Wednesday (July 20). Christian Pulisic's opener was cancelled out by a late penalty for the hosts, forcing the game to a shootout.Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell tucked away the first two spot kicks for the Blues, but after Charlotte had converted their third, Gallagher totally fumbled his.

Manchester City will get their pre-season under way in earnest on Thursday morning when they face Club America.

The future is unclear for Billy Gilmour as the Scots star is set to hold talks with Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.