Paper Round: Arsenal close in on Mikel Arteta appointment

Arsenal are close to replacing Arsene Wenger with Manchester City coach Mikel Arteta. Arteta has had productive talks with Ivan Gazidis this week, and any move for Max Allegri is seen as unlikely to succeed. Santi Cazorla could be kept on for Arteta as a player-coach, with Steve Bould also offered the chance to stay on at the club with the next manager's permission.

Paper Round's view: Arsenal seem content to appoint a player who understands the ways of the club, and that should mean that he can slot in relatively painlessly. However, appointing Arteta carries with it two risks: a) is this enough of a change from Wenger?, and b) has he learned enough under Guardiola to be able to take on one of the Premier League's biggest clubs?

Arsenal are not stopping at recruiting a new manager, but are also active in the transfer market. Their current target is Nice midfielder Jean-Michael Seri, who is available for around £40m. Arsenal, along with Barcelona and other clubs, had wanted to sign him last season, but the London club retain an interest this summer too. Chelsea, however, are also in the market for the player and are currently in the lead for the race for his signature.

Paper Round's view: Neither Arsenal nor Chelsea are in the Champions League this season, which makes it harder for them to recruit the very top targets across the world, especially in a shortened transfer window that also includes the World Cup. That means that both of them will need to act fast and make sure that they can snap up any targets who match their requirements.

Manchester United are confident of landing Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld. Spurs were unable to agree a new deal with Alderweireld, who can leave the club next summer for £25m. However, United are prepared to offer £40m now, and there is also interest from Chelsea, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain. The competition means that the 29-year-old Belgian international will be able to beat the £120,000-a-week offered by his current club. Spurs would sign Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt in turn.

Paper Round's view: Alderweireld is an excellent defender with Premier League experience, and if he has made a proper recovery from his hamstring injury, then he will be a superb addition for any side. United, however, are in most need of improving their defence, and that should translate into a huge pay rise for Alderweireld. At 29, this is his last big move in all likelihood, and it should be no surprise if he maximises the money from this move.

Liverpool are lining up the transfer of another Chelsea youngster, and will make a move for Isaac Christie-Davies, who was released when his contract came to an end at the season's close. The 20-year-old is now available on a free transfer, and Liverpool are not the only club watching. Christie-Davies spent time on trial at Liverpool in March and that should have done enough to let him follow Dominic Solanke to Anfield.

Paper Round's view: Liverpool's recruitment has been solid for the last few years, something that has made them one of the strongest and most exciting teams in the Premier League. While they have spent big on a number of players to support Jurgen Klopp, they have an eye for a bargain, and taking a player from Chelsea's reserves could be quite smart, given the lack of opportunity afforded to those in their youth teams.