Arsenal step up Ivan Toney interest, Jadon Sancho exiled and urged by Man Utd team-mates to apologise – Paper Round

Brentford striker Ivan Toney is wanted by Arsenal this January. Jadon Sancho has been banned from first-team facilities at Manchester United and also urged by his team-mates to apologise to Erik ten Hag. Meanwhile, Marc Cucurella wants out at Chelsea, where their co-owner is making visits to the dressing room amid their worst-ever Premier League start.

 

Arsenal want Toney

Arsenal have stepped up their interest in Brentford striker Ivan Toney with a view to signing the player in January, the Mirror reports. Toney has served half of his eight-month ban for breaching betting rules and will be free to compete come January. Brentford are believed to want at least £60m for the 27-year-old, and Arsenal could well be willing to meet their asking price. 

 

The Mirror adds: “Arteta wants to bring a proven goalscorer to his squad, wants to add a physical presence to his attack and Toney fits the bill, having scored 20 goals in the top flight last season.

“Arsenal are long-term admirers and might have pushed to sign him in the summer had Toney not been banned. The Gunners do have striker options with Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus but they also know that to push Manchester City in the title race they need a prolific scorer.”

 

Sancho urged to apologise

Jadon Sancho has been “exiled” from Manchester United’s first-team facilities, the Mirror reports. After a falling out with head coach Erik ten Hag, Sancho has been training with the club’s academy players, and now he cannot even attend the team dining room of his senior team-mates until a resolution is met. Sources have told the Mirror that “something has to give”, with fellow players encouraging Sancho to say sorry given Ten Hag will not budge on his current stance without an apology. 

 

The Mirror adds: “Sancho is said to be unhappy he has been forbidden from accessing all first-team areas, but is refusing to apologise to Ten Hag, despite having deleted the controversial social media post. United sources have admitted the situation between Sancho and Ten Hag has reached an “impasse”, with no way back for the player until he decides to apologise to his boss.”

 

Chelsea owner ‘risks inviting more debate’

Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali is making regular visits to the team dressing room and also Mauricio Pochettino’s office, decisions that risk “inviting further debate” on the club’s owners, according to the Telegraph. Chelsea are off to their worst start in a league campaign since 1978, and Eghbali was seen visiting the Stamford Bridge dressing room after their 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa. 

 

The Telegraph adds: “Eghbali’s co-controlling owner Todd Boehly was widely criticised for entering the dressing-room after last season’s defeat to Brighton and labelling the team “embarrassing” in an address to the players.

 

“The backlash faced by Boehly has not put off Eghbali, who was spotted leaving the dressing-room area at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea’s defeat to Villa and it is understood he has made the same trip after every game he has attended this season.

 

“Regardless of his motives, Eghbali’s post-match presence in the dressing-room area risks inviting further debate over the involvement of the owners, who head coach Mauricio Pochettino admitted were disappointed by his team’s start to the season.”

 

Cucurella wants out

Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella is already eyeing a January move, The Sun reports. The Spanish defender has not featured in the Premier League this season, with his only appearance so far against Wimbledon in the EFL Cup. He joined Chelsea for £62m from Brighton last year, but has struggled to hold down a starting role. 

 

The Sun adds: “Fed-up Cucurella will likely be recalled for the third-round tie at home to Brighton, who he left to join the Blues last year. But unless he gets more Premier League game time he is ready to call it quits.

 

“The player has held talks with Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino about his future. But the Spanish full-back remains uncertain of how much he will play.”