Arsenal could be closing in on a potential £170m double transfer swoop
Ray Parlour has warned Mikel Arteta that signing Morgan Rogers and Eli Junior Kroupi could disrupt Arsenal’s squad harmony next season, despite approving of both transfers.
The Gunners could match their record £250million expenditure from last year this summer as they try to retain their Premier League title. Manager Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta are understood to be focusing on signing a left winger, while a second striker is also of interest.
Bournemouth’s Kroupi, who scored the goal against Manchester City to gift Arsenal the title last month, represents the latter and would cost around £86m, according to various reports. Meanwhile, Aston Villa’s Rogers is believed to be among Arteta’s key targets, given his power, dribbling ability and versatility, capable of playing both on the left wing and in central midfield.
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Gunners legend Parlour thinks the English champions would get their money’s worth by landing Rogers in the transfer window, with Villa reportedly valuing the 23-year-old at £80m. Parlour said at the launch of E.ON Next’s ‘Watch and Wash’ World Cup campaign: “Kroupi’s a very good, talented player.
“There’s no doubt about that. He’s a young player, and you know Mikel Arteta can make players even better when they’re young, so that would be a good signing.”
Turning his attention to Rogers, Parlour spoke highly of the Villa star but recognised how his arrival might upset the squad harmony Arteta has so carefully cultivated up to now. That is because Rogers would effectively take up the bulk of Trossard and Martinelli’s playing time on the left wing, or lead to their departures altogether, given their inconsistent performances in recent seasons.
The former Invincible said: “I think Rogers is a fantastic player. He can play off the left-hand side as well. I think we need someone off the left.
“I don’t know what will happen with Trossard or Martinelli, but Rogers can play in the No. 10 role as well, which he’s done very well at Aston Villa. I’m interested to see where Rogers plays for England at the World Cup.”
Parlour, alongside England legends Jermain Defoe and Toni Duggan, recently joined forces with E.ON for the launch of ‘Watch and Wash’. The trio are urging football fans to reduce their bills by running the washing during this summer’s late-night fixtures, when 8million fans will be setting their alarms for important World Cup matches. Switching to a time-of-use tariff offers reduced electricity rates during off-peak hours.
To help spread the word, the three legends got back in their training kit and took part in a series of three laundry-themed football challenges – Top Washing Bins, The Smart Energy Shoot Out and Spin and Score – to demonstrate how fans could collectively save more than £93m on their bill through off-peak electricity use with Next Smart Saver.
Parlour said: “What E.On are trying to do is to encourage people to watch and wash because a lot of games are going to be late at night and in the early hours of the morning. So it’s a situation where electricity is cheaper at night. We’ll all be getting up early as England play anyway, I certainly will be, and they are saying there’s an opportunity while you are watching the football to put your wash on and it can save money.
“The cost of living is going up and it’s just that little bit of help really. When we wake up we’re going to watch the game. Why not put your washing on in the early hours of the morning or late at night? It can save you a little bit on your electricity bill.”
This Summer E.ON Next is encouraging people to get their washing done when they’re up watching football at night, to take advantage of cheaper off-peak electricity prices. New ‘Watch and Wash’ campaign launches as it’s revealed the nation could save £93 million collectively if they washed and watched this summer with the Next Smart Saver tariff.
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
