Paper Round: Real Madrid ready to offer player-plus-cash deal for Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez

Real Madrid will look reportedly look to make an offer of Lucas Vazquez, plus cash, to sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal in January. With Real trailing Barcelona in La Liga and drawing PSG in the Champions League last 16, Zinedine Zidane will look at recruits next month to bolster their squad, and the fact that Sanchez would not be cup-tied for Europe’s premier competition means they could well turn to the Arsenal forward, Don Balon – via the Daily Star – reports.

Paper Round’s view: Approach stories from Don Balon with caution, but with January around the corner, Sanchez’s move appears to be anyone’s guess, so why not go for broke on this one. You have to wonder if even he knows what he wants to go – though the fortunes of a certain club some 200 miles north means he could well be dreaming of playing in sky blue come February, and lifting the Premier League trophy by May – or quite possibly February as well, at this rate.

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Arsenal have launched a final offer to persuade Mesut Ozil to stay at the club, the Mirror reports. The club have put a deal worth around £275,000-a-week on the table in the hope that the midfielder will accept before he can sign a pre-contract deal with a foreign side in January. Both Barcelona and Manchester United are said to be interested in signing Ozil from the Gunners.

Paper Round’s view: From Sanchez, to Ozil – apologies to those who have grown bored of these sagas. However, it really does feel like a conclusion is just around the corner, particularly with Ozil. But will he stay or will he go? Again, only he appears to know. Next.

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Luke Shaw is willing to stay at Manchester United and fight for his place, the Mirror reports. The left-back has only featured three times for the Red Devils this season, most recently playing 90 minutes in last week's Champions League win over CSKA Moscow, and manager Jose Mourinho is said to be impressed by the defender's determination to work his way back into the reckoning at Old Trafford.

Paper Round's view: A story that changes with the wind. You have to admire his determination, but he should only wait so long. At 22, he has his best years ahead of him, though you can't help but imagine he'd be on that plane with England to the World Cup if plying his trade elsewhere. He's got next to no chance while at United.

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Real Madrid are set to sign goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for £22m from Athletic Bilbao in January. Marca reports – via the Daily Mail – that the European champions will look to complete a six-year deal for the 23-year-old in the first week of next month.

Paper Round’s view: The move would certainly be a boost for Chelsea fans, who have seen their goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, seemingly flirting with the idea of moving to Real as he stalls on a new contract at Stamford Bridge. One avenue closing for the Belgian could see him commit to the Blues, though the fact his children live in Spain with his former girlfriend means a move abroad will never be off the cards while the situation persists.