Arsenal have been linked with Aleksandr Golovin for some time and appear to be leading the chase for his signature, with his father hinting at a move to England for the CSKA Moscow midfielder. Premier League interest in the 22-year-old was initially sparked on the back of a number of promising showings from the Russia international at the 2017 Confederations Cup. Arsenal were among those reported to be monitoring the talented playmaker, with Serie A champions Juventus also in the running for a highly rated performer. Transfer speculation has resurfaced this summer, with England and Italy still considered to be the most likely destinations for Golovin. It could be that Emirates Stadium soon becomes his home, with it revealed that the youngster is readying himself for a potential move to London. "Sasha [Russian variation on Aleksandr] does not even read this news so as not to clog his head during the World Cup," Golovin Sr told Komsomolskaya Pravda. "He now has one thing on his mind: the Russian team. But if such proposals are made, I believe that he will go abroad, play abroad. "There football is of a different level, there is nowhere to hide. Speeds are different. I’m sure my son will be able to play at a new level. "It will be more difficult with a foreign language. But I know that Sasha has already started learning English." Golovin’s first outing at a home World Cup saw him shine in a 5-0 mauling of Saudi Arabia. He contributed two assists to the Russian cause before rounding off the scoring with a classy free-kick.

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has heaped praise on France and Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante following Les Bleus' World Cup win over Australia. The midfielder put in a superb performance in a 2-1 victory over the Socceroos, where a penalty netted by Antoine Griezmann and an own goal from Aziz Behich got the Euro 2016 runners-up off to a perfect start. France didn't have it all their own way in the match though and Kante had to work hard in the middle of the field, where he dictated the tempo of the game with calm and controlled play. While Kante didn't make the headlines, Wenger praised the 27-year-old's involvement when speaking to beIN Sports. "He is one of the most influential midfielders I've seen play football. He constantly makes simple decisions and never overcomplicates it," the Arsenal icon said. Wenger, who left the Gunners at the end of the 2017-18 season after 22 years at the helm in north London, also revealed he attempted to sign Kante twice, including before he was brought to the Premier League by Leicester City. "Have I looked to sign Kante? Yes. When he was in France and when he was at Leicester," he added. "I cannot explain everything [about why he preferred Chelsea] but it is quite obvious when you look at where he has gone. "Was it the money? I do not want to talk about that. Transfers are transfers - you cannot explain absolutely everything." Kante has won the Premier League and FA Cup in his two seasons at Chelsea and is widely being linked with a return to France this summer to join Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.

West Ham have been warned off making a move for Yaya Toure, with club legend and World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst claiming the former Manchester City man would be “a very, very poor decision”. The Ivorian midfielder is available as a free agent this summer after reaching the end of his contract at the Etihad Stadium. He landed two Premier League titles and the FA Cup with City, having previously won La Liga and the Champions League with Barcelona, and is considered to be an iconic figure within English football. Toure is, however, now 35 years of age and has held nothing back in a rather blunt assessment of former manager Pep Guardiola since finding himself without a club. Hammers hero Hurst believes a combination of those factors make a summer move to bring him to the London Stadium the wrong call for Manuel Pellegrini’s side, telling the Daily Star: “When I see them linked with Toure I just think that’s completely and utterly off the wall. “I absolutely cannot believe as a club we’re looking at him. “We bought the full-back - Ryan Fredericks - from Fulham which was terrific. “But looking at Toure - with his comments about Pep Guardiola and the business with his birthday cake a few years ago - for West Ham to even think about talking to him is a very, very poor decision. “There comes a time when a player is past his best and we shouldn’t be buying cast-offs from other teams.” While urging West Ham to overlook Toure, former England international Hurst has also advised the club to shelve interest in Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere. He is another who could be available for nothing this summer, but his injury issues make him a gamble for anybody considering an approach. Hurst added: “Wilshere is injury prone and you don’t want to sign players like that. We’ve already got Andy Carroll. “Wilshere again for me is a complete no. There’s enough players in the world. West Ham don’t need to sign cast-offs, injured players and players that are too old. “For God’s sake surely we have enough money to buy a bit of quality.”