Arsenal have set a clear stance on the potential sale of a key star this summer, as The Mirror reports that European giants have been monitoring the Gunners ace in recent days.

The North London club are keen to improve the squad for next season, after an impressive campaign that saw them end the long wait to win a Premier League title, while going close to landing a first Champions League triumph.

Any possible incomings will need to be offset by exits, however, as the squad appears filled with talent in every single position at Mikel Arteta‘s disposal.

Despite that, some clear options for sales will be off the table, as Arsenal have set a firm stance on a star leaving the club.

Arsenal Set Piero Hincapie Stance

Arsenal have made it clear that they won’t entertain offers for Piero Hincapie this summer, according to The Mirror, as clubs line up a potential deal for the defender.

It’s claimed that Real Madrid have been showing interest in the versatile star, with chief scout Juni Calafat in attendance for Ecuador’s clash with the Ivory Coast to monitor the Arsenal ace.

Los Blancos are believed to be joined by Barcelona in the race for Hincapie, but it’s a race that the Gunners are looking to shut down immediately.

The stance of no sale means Hincapie is set to stay at the Emirates Stadium, regardless of any offer that could come in from the Spanish giants, as they are both on the lookout for possible centre-back options.

Hincapie joined Arsenal last summer on an initial loan move from Bayer Leverkusen, which was made permanent in recent days with a £34.5 million buy option in his deal.

The 24-year-old signed a contract until 2031, meaning he is contracted for the next five years, making an exit all the more unlikely.

Why Arteta Wants To Keep Hincapie

It’s clear why Arteta wants to keep Hincapie at Arsenal, with the star encapsulating everything that has made the Gunners good in recent years.

The manager explained it best when he discussed the star earlier this year, stating: “When I spoke to Xabi [Alonso] just before we were going to sign him, I said if you have to describe him in one word, what would you use, and he said, ‘He’s a warrior’.

“He will play through brick walls for you and he’s one of the most competitive players that I have had.

“He’s come into the Premier League after surgery and a difficult start without a pre-season, and when you see him around his team-mates and competing on the pitch, it’s like he’s been here for 10 years. He has an aura, a charisma – a really special character.”

Arsenal will now have that warrior for years to come, with any approach set to be rejected this summer.

Tottenham are said to have made a cheeky request to Newcastle United as they look to get the Sandro Tonali transfer over the line. Spurs are working on a number of deals as they look to follow up their bold start to the window, which has seen them snap up four players within just over a week of the summer transfer window officially opening.

The Spurs chiefs indirectly promised changes to investment levels after back-to-back bottom-half Premier League finishes, and they are now following up. Big money is to be spent to overhaul Roberto De Zerbi’s squad this summer, and the next priority appears to be the midfield.

The latest on Spurs move to sign Tonali

via Reuters

Tottenham saw a £75million bid for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali rejected recently, with the Magpies hoping for around £100million, according to the Daily Mail, who say Spurs sent a bizarre second offer for the player this week.

They say Tottenham sent another offer but did not increase the value of it, leading to a swift rejection from Newcastle United. It’s unclear what Tottenham’s thinking was, and indeed whether the terms of the deal were changed, which could be the case. It’s possible Tottenham promised more money upfront in a bid to sweeten the offer, while they may also have been trying their luck with the knowledge Tonali is said to prefer a move this summer, with Sky Sports reporting he has already “said yes” to Spurs.

But it seems Newcastle are focused on landing a bigger fee, and that will force Spurs to consider whether they meet those demands or take their money elsewhere to buy an alternative midfielder this summer.

Tottenham’s midfield needs in the transfer window

Spurs are in need of a midfielder or two this summer as they say goodbye to Yves Bissouma, who will leave at the end of his current deal. The North London club are also on course to lose loan player Joao Palhinha unless they move to activate the option to buy that would make the deal permanent.

It has gone quiet on that front over recent weeks, but Spurs likely have until the end of the month to make their decision. The latest reports claim Spurs wanted a cheaper deal, but Bayern are unlikely to accommodate that request, given they paid. The option to buy is already £21million less than the €51million Bayern paid for the Portugal international.

Spurs have Rodrigo Bentancur as their only real out-and-out holding midfielder on the books for next season, but Achie Gray, Conor Gallagher and Pape Matar Sarr are all capable of playing a deeper role, so there is some depth there.

Kylian Mbappe is lighting up the 2026 World Cup as he looks to fire France to their second success in world football’s biggest competition since 2018.

The Real Madrid forward is firmly in the Golden Boot race against the likes of Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Vinicius Junior, having found the net four times in the group stages. Mbappe was crucial to his nation lifting the trophy in 2018, bursting onto the scene as a teenager.

He then had an incredible tournament four years later in Qatar. Despite his side having to settle for second place, the 27-year-old fired in a hat-trick in the final, something only Sir Geoff Hurst has previously managed.

Kylian Mbappe Wearing Different Shirt to France Teammates

Kyle Ross (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

That treble in the final against Argentina helped Mbappe to the Golden Boot in the 2022 World Cup. The versatile forward netted eight times in total, and was undeserving of being on the losing side.

He tends to step up on the big stage when his country needs him. Some eagle-eyed fans may have spotted a difference in the shirt Mbappe is wearing this summer compared to the rest of Didier Deschamps’ men.

The reason for that is his Golden Boot victory in 2022. Any active player who has won the individual award at the World Cup is allowed to wear a special patch on the sleeve of their shirt.

England’s Harry Kane and Colombia’s James Rodriguez are the only other players at the tournament this summer allowed to wear the patch, after winning the 2018 and 2014 Golden Boots, respectively.

The award has never been won back-to-back in the competition’s history. But with France being among the strong favourites and expected to go far, there’s every chance their talisman can scoop the honour once again. After all, he’s only four goals away from being the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer.

Mbappe: Lionel Messi Still the Best

Reuters/Maria Lysaker

While Mbappe is hunting his old Paris Saint-Germain teammate Lionel Messi down in the current Golden Boot race and the all-time scoring charts, he still concedes he has a lot to do to overtake the Argentine.

It was no surprise to Les Bleus’ number nine that Messi has continued to deliver on the big stage. He said (per ESPN): “I already knew Messi was going to keep scoring goals. He always does. He’s ahead of me and I’m behind him. I’ll keep scoring to help my national team go as far as possible.”

Following the greatest footballer of all time smashed a hat-trick against Algeria, Mbappe declared him still the best in the world. He claimed: