It’s pretty quiet out there in Arsenal land, so here is a selection of the stories that caught my eye as I made my way around the media this morning.
Seeing red
Managers will receive yellow and red cards from next season, but only in the EFL and FA Cups. [Various]
Meyer to Palace
Crystal Palace are on the verge of agreeing a deal with Max Meyer that would see the 22-year-old sign for Roy Hodgson. [Guardian]
GonzGo
Gonzalo Higuain is off on loan to AC Milan as part of a deal that will see Leonardo Bonucci return to Juventus with Mattia Caldar going the other way. [Guardian]
Cry me a river
Mauricio Pochettino has been crying about the transfer window closing early, claiming Spurs might not buy any players. They are the only side from the top six yet to purchase a new player this summer. [Guardian]
Stoked
Stoke City expect Jack Butland to remain at the club next season to play in the Championship. “He’s our player and if he plays in the Championship with us, which we fully expect him to do, I don’t see how that will impinge on his international ambitions,” said manager, Gary Rowett. “We haven’t had an offer which the club feel is financially viable – or I don’t think any strong offer yet.” [Various]
Nothing to see here
Willian has failed to turn up to Chelsea training. Expected back at at the club last week, the Brazilian’s passport has reportedly expired, and he has already missed four days of training.
Brazilian passports can only be renewed once they’ve expired, or if the country they are visiting requires a set amount of time remaining on the passport. It takes up to six working days to get a new passport. There is no fast-track system ‘under ordinary circumstances’. Needless to say, some of the tabloids have made this into a story about Willian wanting to leave or secure a new deal at Chelsea. [Various]
Barca man to become Toffee
Lucas Digne is on the verge of completing his £18million move to Everton after passing a medical on Monday. The Barcelona left-back is reportedly being brought in as the successor to defender Leighton Baines. The 25-year-old was ready to put pen to paper after agreeing terms with the Goodison side. [Express]
Going Dutch
Manchester City have bolstered their defensive ranks with the £2.6million signing of 21-year-old Dutch youth international Philippe Sandler from PEC Zwolle. Sandler, a Holland Under-20 international, came through the ranks at Ajax before moving to their Eredivisie rivals. [Telegraph].
Baggies bag assistant
West Bromwich Albion are to appoint Graeme Jones as Darren Moore’s assistant manager. Jones, who worked under Roberto Martinez at the World Cup finals for Belgium, will take his first day of training with the Sky Bet Championship club on Thursday.[Telegraph]
Not-so-Freeman
Former Arsenal youngster, Luke Freeman, is likely to leave QPR for 10x what they paid for him just 18 months ago. [Evening Standard]