Arsenal pre-season USA tour cancelled over coronavirus cases
Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the USA has been cancelled due to a number of coronavirus cases in the camp.
Sky Sports News reports that a small number of the travelling party have tested positive after undergoing tests on Monday and Tuesday. The cancellation will certainly disrupt Mikel Arteta’s preparations for the new Premier League campaign, which gets underway at Brentford on August 13.
The Gunners were expected to travel to the US on Wednesday ahead of participating in the Florida Cup, alongside Everton, Inter Milan and Colombian side Millonarios.
Arteta’s men were due to face Inter on July 25 and then potentially play the winners of Everton’s match against Millionarios.
Arsenal started their pre-season in Scotland, where they played two matches, losing 2-1 to Hibernian and drawing 2-2 with champions Rangers.
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Arsenal soften stance on star’s exit
Meanwhile, Arsenal have reportedly softened their stance over the terms of Hector Bellerin’s proposed move to Italian champions Inter Milan.
The Serie A giants are continuing with their efforts to land the experienced Spain star, who the Gunners are prepared to let leave this summer. Talks are still at an advanced stage, but an Italian report suggests there has been a change in approach from Mikel Arteta’s men.
TuttoMercatoWeb states that Arsenal has ‘slightly softened their position’, claiming they will now accept an initial loan, as long as it includes an obligatory loan with an option to buy clause that is dependant on performance goals.
However, at this stage, Inter are yet to offer anything more than a loan option. That means that the negotiations will continue for the 26-year-old, who has been with the Gunners since 2013.
There is still confidence that the deal will get done, with Inter and Bellerin already having an agreement in place. The report adds that the defender has been offered a five-year deal, with a salary worth €3.5m per season.
The former Barcelona youth product has also asked for an official exit. However, it’s now just down to Inter accepting Arsenal’s terms for the deal for it to be ratified.
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