{"id":539199,"date":"2026-03-22T20:36:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T20:36:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/539199\/"},"modified":"2026-03-22T20:36:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T20:36:08","slug":"transfer-rumors-news-arsenal-step-up-pursuit-of-roma-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/539199\/","title":{"rendered":"Transfer rumors, news: Arsenal step up pursuit of Roma star"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Mar 22, 2026, 03:24 PM ET<\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"154c1cfa-e721-b7dd-9a1b-9b9762936b76\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/team?id=104\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Roma<\/a> defender <a data-player-guid=\"04d83c96-5726-3834-81bf-8d1e7ff72c8b\" href=\"http:\/\/espn.com\/soccer\/player\/_\/id\/332354\/wesley-franca\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Wesley Fran\u00e7a<\/a> is a target for <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"feb44e87-58fa-9597-2691-b3c32768ebe4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/team?id=359\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Arsenal<\/a> while <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"a47fbcec-c948-cf4c-9e41-3dfa37588c9c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/team?id=364\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Liverpool<\/a> are considering <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"ec6b4352-98d3-424d-6214-778d79b47a01\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/team?id=361\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Newcastle United<\/a>&#8216;s <a data-player-guid=\"1c67a47d-7b8f-d560-6aaf-0f9e73b00f51\" href=\"http:\/\/espn.com\/soccer\/player\/_\/id\/268782\/anthony-gordon\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Anthony Gordon<\/a> as an upgrade on <a data-player-guid=\"c9ad2796-537e-c93b-4f14-1b323d48644a\" href=\"http:\/\/espn.com\/soccer\/player\/_\/id\/249524\/cody-gakpo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cody Gakpo<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/transfers-news-and-features\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Transfers home page<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/story\/_\/id\/47444534\/january-transfer-window-grading-big-signings-mens-soccer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Men&#8217;s winter grades<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/story\/_\/id\/47444650\/january-transfer-window-grading-big-signings-womens-soccer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Women&#8217;s grades<\/a><\/p>\n<p>TRENDING RUMORS<img class=\" lazyload lazyload\" data-image-container=\".inline-photo\" height=\"320\" width=\"570\"\/>Arsenal need to find a replacement for Ben White and are pushing to sign AS Roma&#8217;s Wesley Franca.\u00a0Elianton\/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Arsenal are stepping up their quest for Roma in-form defender Wesley Fran\u00e7a, with <a data-player-guid=\"db3d680c-98ac-691f-b52a-2da79478c7a8\" href=\"http:\/\/espn.com\/soccer\/player\/_\/id\/241077\/ben-white\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ben White<\/a> set to make way in the summer, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamtalk.com\/arsenal\/gunners-approve-ben-white-sale-wesley-franca-interest-significant-exclusive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TEAMtalk<\/a>. Fran\u00e7a has been a revelation since joining the Italians from Flamengo last summer, impressing with a four-goal haul. Arsenal scouts have also noted the Brazilian 22-year-old right back&#8217;s athleticism, defensive diligence and attacking capabilities. Everton are also interested. The Gunners are also monitoring Newcastle&#8217;s <a data-player-guid=\"3e36f914-57dd-30c6-9c8c-449e1aedfa66\" href=\"http:\/\/espn.com\/soccer\/player\/_\/id\/299641\/tino-livramento\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tino Livramento<\/a>, <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"01baf2d6-fa74-448f-8989-6620e402468c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/team?id=125\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Eintracht Frankfurt<\/a>&#8216;s <a data-player-guid=\"984c74e5-df83-3a59-8a23-8406b8c8338a\" href=\"http:\/\/espn.com\/soccer\/player\/_\/id\/305556\/nnamdi-collins\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nnamdi Collins<\/a> and <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"8e37a6b1-d9b7-251c-9920-88d467d9c871\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/team?id=174\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Monaco<\/a>&#8216;s <a data-player-guid=\"b30e31e6-a554-300b-94e9-32ad4980e61b\" href=\"http:\/\/espn.com\/soccer\/player\/_\/id\/310640\/vanderson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Vanderson<\/a>. Meanwhile, White&#8217;s departure has been sanctioned by the club if the right offer comes along.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Liverpool could replace Cody Gakpo with Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon in the summer, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamtalk.com\/liverpool\/anthony-gordon-transfer-double-winger-deal-cody-gakpo-sale-alerts-tottenham-newcastle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TEAMtalk<\/a>. Gakpo has been offered to clubs in the <a data-league-guid=\"6949f3af-300c-35f1-beab-b95669eedd38\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/league\/_\/name\/ENG.1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Premier League<\/a>, including <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"f987a4b2-f3f9-e7f6-eb7d-eda43893be5a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/team?id=367\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tottenham Hotspur<\/a>, and around Europe as Liverpool attempt to gauge interest in the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"6236b2ae-6d80-4bff-5c4f-3573ac94bec8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/team?id=449\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Netherlands<\/a> international through third-party representatives. Gakpo&#8217;s departure could make way for Gordon, who continues to impress Reds officials, though Newcastle have made no secret of their intention to keep the 25-year-old on Tyneside. Gordon spent part of his youth development at Liverpool before joining Merseyside rivals <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"c531d4dd-ea53-c1fc-9c91-c7f8f31b5a40\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/team?id=368\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Everton<\/a> in 2012; he ultimately began his professional career at Everton.<\/p>\n<p>Editor&#8217;s Picks<\/p>\n<p>2 Related<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"58f7c4a9-c991-4ed4-fe5c-1f833cba75b8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/team?id=83\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Barcelona<\/a> and <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"66434654-a8ba-a04c-98e5-6bbd0dbbb780\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/team?id=86\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Real Madrid<\/a> are both planning to test the waters for <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"94fd5d7e-35b1-9d52-c9f2-4a37259bea36\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/team?id=382\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Manchester City<\/a> striker <a data-player-guid=\"63b48f6c-a73d-78e7-71b9-21edae6b0e31\" href=\"http:\/\/espn.com\/soccer\/player\/_\/id\/253989\/erling-haaland\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Erling Haaland<\/a> in the summer, but City are not planning on allowing the 25-year-old to leave, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.footballinsider247.com\/erling-haaland-man-city-plan-to-block-dream-move-to-barcelona-or-real-madrid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Football Insider&#8217;s Pete O&#8217;Rourke<\/a>. Haaland is contracted at the Etihad Stadium until 2031, and City are looking to sign players in other positions around him. Haaland has been out of form by his high standards &#8212; scoring just five goals in 18 appearances since the turn of the year &#8212; prompting suggestions he may consider a new challenge, and the two Spanish giants remain intent on trying to lure the Norway international to LaLiga as a statement signing. O&#8217;Rourke also reports that should manager Pep Guardiola leave the club, City would prefer to replace him with <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"25b5e432-d3d2-939f-f73b-6e531a6fbd91\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/team?id=132\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bayern Munich<\/a> boss Vincent Kompany, rather than other possible candidates such as Enzo Maresca or Luis Enrique.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"87fe4844-a7cf-c88e-2ebe-aeb57325e990\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/team?id=111\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Juventus<\/a> boss Luciano Spalletti is keen on signing Real Madrid defender <a data-player-guid=\"d60eca55-042b-d9f3-3a3d-732470d919d5\" href=\"http:\/\/espn.com\/soccer\/player\/_\/id\/169438\/antonio-rudiger\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Antonio R\u00fcdiger<\/a> and, in doing so, fend off interest from a number of Premier League clubs, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tuttosport.com\/news\/calcio\/calciomercato\/2026\/03\/21-147441195\/rudiger_la_juve_c_pap_spalletti_assist_dell_agente_e_la_formula_come_si_pu_fare_il_colpaccio\/4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Tuttosport<\/a>. Spalletti and R\u00fcdiger worked together at Roma, and it remains an ambition of the Bianconeri boss to re-sign the 33-year-old, ideally on a two-year deal, to bring some stability to his back line. Spalletti sees the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"de751eda-c32e-4714-1774-ff1ead8ca19b\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/team?id=481\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Germany<\/a> defender as the perfect short-term addition to his squad, with his <a data-league-guid=\"da52796f-2621-3351-8e77-955da92ea82d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/league\/_\/name\/UEFA.CHAMPIONS\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">UEFA Champions League<\/a> experience and leadership. R\u00fcdiger is available on a free transfer at the end of the season. However, <a href=\"https:\/\/as.com\/futbol\/primera\/giro-radical-en-el-caso-rudiger-f202603-n\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Diario AS<\/a> reports that there has been a &#8220;radical twist&#8221; in the situation, with a contract renewal for the defender now in the cards. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/football\/story\/_\/id\/48267439\/jude-bellingham-available-real-madrid-face-atletico-madrid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Madrid coach \u00c1lvaro Arbeloa enthusiastically said<\/a> on Saturday that he&#8217;d &#8220;build a statue to R\u00fcdiger and put it in my garden.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/team\/_\/id\/1068\/atletico-madrid\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Atl\u00e9tico Madrid<\/a> have bid \u20ac35 million plus bonuses for <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"f7f801ac-4d05-4840-e4a2-c573d04a1d52\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/team?id=105\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Atalanta<\/a> midfielder <a data-player-guid=\"54c2fb4f-deb3-e4ff-c8bf-4a75d4d47661\" href=\"http:\/\/espn.com\/soccer\/player\/_\/id\/278210\/ederson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u00c9derson<\/a>, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AlfredoPedulla\/status\/2034965716722463164?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Sportitalia&#8217;s Alfredo Pedulla<\/a>. The Italian club are hoping to recoup closer to \u20ac40 million for the Brazilian. \u00c9derson was a key member of the team as Le Dea won the Europa League and finished fourth in <a data-league-guid=\"9c1e0753-2757-3b78-a6ed-1b595caf8191\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/league\/_\/name\/ITA.1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Serie A<\/a> in 2023-24, and since then he has been linked with some of Europe&#8217;s biggest clubs for several seasons. The 26-year-old&#8217;s contract in Bergamo is due to expire at the end of next season.<\/p>\n<p>EXPERT TAKE<img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/>play<\/p>\n<p>0:53<\/p>\n<p>Nicol: Slot shouldn&#8217;t get sacked if Liverpool miss out on a UCL spot<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">Steve Nicol debates Arne Slot&#8217;s future after Liverpool&#8217;s 2-1 loss to Brighton in the Premier League.<\/p>\n<p>OTHER RUMORS<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Liverpool are ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign midfielder Eduardo Camavinga. Real Madrid are willing to listen to offers in the region of \u20ac50 million. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.caughtoffside.com\/2026\/03\/21\/liverpool-eduardo-camavinga-transfer-talks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Caught Offside<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Despite being heavily linked with a move away from Newcastle, particularly to Manchester United, Bruno Guimar\u00e3es is committed to the northeast. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chroniclelive.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/bruno-guimaraes-transfer-leak-truth-33633904\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Newcastle Chronicle<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Inter Milan and Juventus are tracking the situation of Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, hoping the 21-year-old could form an integral part of their midfield rebuilds in the summer. <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Ekremkonur\/status\/2035604146301153373\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">(Ekrem Konur<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Arsenal could allow a number of players to leave in the summer as they look to freshen up their squad and build on what they hope will be a title-winning season. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/football\/2026\/03\/21\/arsenal-mikel-arteta-fc-kroenke-league-cup-power-investment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Daily Telegraph<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Liverpool winger Giorgi Mamardashvili is a target for European clubs and he could be tempted with the promise of more game time. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.footballinsider247.com\/giorgi-mamardashvili-frustrated-at-liverpool-as-\u20acpean-clubs-plot-summer-move\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Football Insider<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Rangers boss Danny R\u00f6hl has expressed his desire to extend Mikey Moore&#8217;s deal beyond the end of the season, whether it&#8217;s a loan move or permanent deal. The 18-year-old was on the scoresheet for Rangers against Aberdeen on Saturday. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/sport\/football\/article-15668087\/GIVE-MOORE-Rohl-keen-renewing-Spurs-youngsters-loan-deal-season.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Daily Mail<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Xabi Alonso is the leading contender to replace Arne Slot should the Dutchman be relieved of his duties as Liverpool Manager. Slot came under fresh pressure following Saturday&#8217;s 2-1 defeat at Brighton &amp; Hove Albion. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.footballinsider247.com\/xabi-alonso-the-leading-contender-as-liverpool-assess-arne-slot-replacements\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Football Insider<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Mar 22, 2026, 03:24 PM ET Roma defender Wesley Fran\u00e7a is a target for Arsenal while Liverpool are&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":539200,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[403,99],"class_list":["post-539199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-soccer","tag-soccer","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/539199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=539199"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/539199\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/539200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=539199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=539199"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=539199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}