Dembele wanted Real Madrid move

14.50: Ousmane Dembele ‘went crazy’ when he found out Real Madrid wanted to sign him, reports say.

Barcelona signed Dembele from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund following Neymar’s decision to join Paris Saint-Germain last month.

The 20-year-old rejected a Nou Camp move 12 months ago but has signed on the dotted line for a fee of £97million – making him the world’s second most-expensive player.

Yet Spanish outlet Don Balon claims Dembele was not always so optimistic about a move to Ernesto Valverde’s team.

Instead, he was in favour of a move to Barcelona’s fierce La Liga rivals Real Madrid.

It is said Dembele entered talks with Los Blancos about a Bernabeu transfer.

But, in a crushing blow, Zinedine Zidane pulled out of a move.

Arsenal statement of ambtion

12.30: Ivan Gazidis claims keeping Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil was a clear statement of Arsenal’s ambitions.

The duo remain at Arsenal despite their contracts running out at the end of the season – making both likely to leave for free or for a cut price in January.

But the chief executive says: “It was a clear statement of our ambitions and should help refute suggestions we are just about the money.

“That is simply nonsense.”

Although Arsenal sold Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for £35m to Liverpool, Gazidis believes the club is in great shape.

He said: “At the end of the window, reviewing all activity, we have once again improved the quality and depth of our squad.” Read more