Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has denied claims that his old club have already agreed a deal to sign Manchester City midfielder James Milner.  

The England international is out of contract at the end of the season, and Smith appeared to suggest on Sky Sports (h/t ArsenalFanTV, via Simon Rice of The Independent) that it was going to go through. 

But Smith clarified his comments by posting a message on Twitter to say he had only heard a whisper that Milner is on his way to the Emirates Stadium:

Milner has been offered a new contract by City, and manager Manuel Pellegrini remains hopeful that the player will agree to stay. Speaking in March, Pellegrini said, per Sky Sports: “Maybe City have already offered all that the club can offer, maybe it’s not about more money, maybe there are different things to sign a new contract. You must ask James what is happening with him. I hope he will find an arrangement, and I think it’s possible.”

But, the longer the situation drags on, the more inevitable it appears that Milner will be leaving City in the summer. The question is where will he go?

Former City boss Roberto Mancini has shown an interest in taking Milner to Inter Milan, per his response to questions on Inter’s Facebook page (via ESPN FC). Milner, himself, is considering the opportunity to play abroad, per Jamie Jackson of The Guardian.

If Arsenal can agree a deal for Milner, then he would be a valuable addition to Arsene Wenger’s squad as he would bring versatility and title-winning experience to the club.

One player who definitely doesn’t appear to be on his way to Arsenal this summer, though, is Palermo striker Paulo Dybala.

Wenger has previously denied an interest in Dybala, per Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express, following reports Arsenal had made an offer, but that has not stopped the speculation he is still a target for the club.

However, per Corriere dello Sport (h/t the Daily Mirror), Dybala is set to join Italian champions Juventus in a £23 million deal.

As Wenger considers his summer transfer options, he has been advised to sign a new goalkeeper by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher. David Ospina, who joined Arsenal last summer, replaced Wojciech Szczesny as first choice in January, but he is not the long-term answer for the club following his mistake in the 1-0 home defeat to Swansea City, according to Carragher on Sky Sports‘ Monday Night Football:

I think Arsenal need to go out in the summer and just buy a proper No 1. His record is good because the team are playing well and are defending well so they’re not having that much to do, but he was bought as a No 2. Very rarely do you see a No 2 goalkeeper become a No 1. If he was that good, why was he bought as a No 2? Why wasn’t he coming and being the No 1?

Carragher does not expect Chelsea keeper Petr Cech to join Arsenal, though. Cech has been playing back-up to Thibaut Courtois at Stamford Bridge this season, and if he does leave Chelsea in the summer, manager Jose Mourinho does not want him to join another Premier League team. Mourinho said, per Tom Dutton of the Evening Standard:

The club is more important than the player and the club needs two very good goalkeepers. Without Petr this season I don’t think the club would be champions. So for me, decision No 1 is that Petr will stay. After that, second point is for him to go, but not in England. The option I don’t want is for him to go to an English club.

With the Premier League season almost over and the reopening of the transfer window on the horizon, there will be plenty of names linked with a move to Arsenal.

Another one to throw into the mix is Porto midfielder Juan Quintero, per Portuguese paper A Bola (via Tom Olver of Metro). Porto are prepared to sell the Colombian this summer, and Wenger is considering an £8.5 million bid for Quintero, per the report.

An attacking midfielder in the style of Quintero does not immediately seem to be a priority position for Wenger to strengthen given the options he already has in his squad. Wenger is blessed with creative players, and his transfer budget would be better spent on other areas.

Milner must be considered an attractive proposition due to his free transfer status, even if he will command a big salary. But the opportunity to sign a player of his calibre and experience for nothing rarely comes around, and Wenger would certainly be wise to seriously consider a deal for Milner.

Having a world-class goalkeeper in your squad can often make the difference between winning the title and finishing runners up. If Arsenal want to make that leap next season, then efforts must be made to sign Cech, even with Chelsea’s reluctance to let him join a Premier League rival.

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