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The Gunners boss gave a confusing response with two of his star men facing departures from the Emirates Stadium in the next 12 months Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil entering the last year of their Arsenal contracts is an "ideal" situation for the club, believes manager Arsene Wenger. Deals for Alexis and Ozil are due to expire at the end of the coming campaign, with the Chile international having been linked with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain as a result. Alexis was not involved in this weekend's Emirates Cup as his return to training following international duty Confederations Cup was delayed due to illness, as speculation of an exit from the Gunners continues to surround the exciting forward. And Wenger insisted it will become more common for top players to allow their contracts to run down, with Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla and Kieran Gibbs also in the final year of their current deals. "It is an ideal sit...

Tiemoue Bakayoko has joined Chelsea from Monaco and become the club's second-most expensive signing of all time. Sky Sports News HQ understands the 22-year-old has cost the Blues £40m - some £10m less than Fernando Torres in 2011. Bakayoko, an athletic central midfielder, has signed a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge and will join up with France international team-mate N'Golo Kante. Bakayoko said: "I have grown up watching Chelsea. Signing was the natural thing for me because it is a club I loved very much in my childhood. "I am now looking forward to evolving under this fantastic coach (Antonio Conte) and alongside so many great team-mates." Chelsea's technical director Michael Emenalo said: "Tiemoue was outstanding as Monaco emerged as one of Europe's best sides last season and we are delighted to welcome him to Chelsea. "Despite his young age he already has plenty of experience as a French title winner and having competed ...

Manchester United record goalscorer Wayne Rooney has rejoined Everton for an undisclosed fee, 13 years after leaving the Merseyside club. Rooney, 31, played 559 times for United, scoring 253 goals. He won five Premier League titles and each of the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup once after joining from Everton for £27m in 2004. Rooney, who has signed a two-year deal, said he was "ecstatic" and his "first game back will be an emotional day". "It's a great feeling to be back. I cannot wait to meet the lads, get on the training pitch and then get on the pitch to play," he added. Rooney's return comes as United look set to sign Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, with a £75m deal for the Belgium international agreed between the two clubs. Everton confirmed Rooney will wear the number 10 shirt previously worn by Lukaku. "I'm not just coming back because it's the team I support, the team I grew up playing for - I'm...

Chelsea have matched Manchester United's £75m bid for Everton striker Romelu Lukaku. Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is understood to have become frustrated at the prospect of missing out on the Belgium international but the Blues appear to remain firmly in the race to sign Lukaku. The feeling at Stamford Bridge is that Lukaku's agent, Mino Raiola, wants him to go to United but the player himself would prefer a move to Chelsea. We understand Lukaku must now choose between suiting his agent's agenda or a sporting one to satisfy his long-held desire to return to Chelsea, who originally signed him from Anderlecht for £18m in August 2011. Lukaku was later loaned out to West Brom and Everton, who subsequently paid £20m for him in July 2014, but the 24-year-old could yet find himself back in west London, with Everton set to benefit from a bidding war between two of the richest clubs in world football. Conte is due back at the club's Cobham training ground at the end o...

Arsenal have completed the signing of Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon. The club confirmed Lacazette signed a "long-term contract for an undisclosed fee" on Wednesday evening. It was indicated earlier this week the France international would sign a five-year deal at the Emirates Stadium after Arsenal agreed a club-record deal which could rise to £52m over the course of his contract. Lacazette told Arsenal's official website: "I am, of course, delighted and very proud too because Arsenal is a legendary club. Throughout my childhood, thanks to Thierry Henry and other French players, I always dreamed of playing for this club so today that dream has been fulfilled. "The fact that the manager has been here for a while shows that it is a stable club which I like. In addition there are quite a few French players here, which makes it easier to settle in. In my opinion, Arsenal is also the club that plays the best football in England so I really wanted to come he...