It’s just under four months until the January transfer window opens, but we’re seemingly getting the ridiculous Arsenal rumours out of the way early this season, starting with Neymar.

According to an exclusive in the Express, the Paris Saint-Germain star has privately told his friends he prefers the idea of a move to Arsenal or Chelsea over one of the Manchester clubs. The Brazilian reportedly “loves” England, and London in particular, and visits regularly.

That’s all very well, but even the Express admit he’s still more likely to return to La Liga than join Arsenal or Chelsea. After a £200m move to France from Barcelona last summer, it seems unlikely any club could even afford the winger without breaching Financial Fair Play regulations. It’s a wonder PSG managed it.

Hopefully this doesn’t become one of those ‘Ronaldo to Manchester United’ or ‘Benzema to Arsenal’ type rumours. The media continuously peddle them even though there’s nothing to them, just because they know fans will eat it up.

If a transfer rumour sounds too ridiculous to be true, that’s generally because it is. Particularly in the case of Arsenal. Mesut Özil’s signature was the last exception to that rule, and even that was half a decade ago now. Let’s focus on the stories that could actually lead to something.