Arsenal’s summer transfer strategy continues and football.london has the latest on all the ongoing market movements
The first month of the summer transfer window is coming to a close, and so far Arsenal have confirmed just one signing. Piero Hincapie’s move from Bayer Leverkusen has become permanent; football.london understands that the club have paid in the region of £34.5million plus add-ons for the Ecuadorian.
However, this is far from the only work going on at the club. Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta and head of scouting Maurizio Micheli have been leading the club’s strategy, and as we enter July, there is an expectation that business will accelerate.
Despite some impatience within the fan base having seen Manchester City secure the signing of Elliot Anderson for £116million, and their North London rivals already making moves in the market, there is a combination of factors that have slowed workings.
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football.london understands that the extended end to the season with the UEFA Champions League final, and the World Cup have both played their part. But as the inner workings of the club begin to return after the summer break, there will be plenty of activity in the walls of the Sobha Realty Training Centre.
The big name which has dominated stories this week has been Bruno Guimaraes. football.london understands that the interest in bringing Guimaraes to Arsenal this summer is most certainly real; however, as is the case with all the club’s targets, the price tag has a huge role to play.
While intermediaries have mainly been handling the informal elements of the talks, the consciousness that a new contract for the player from Newcastle is naturally a factor within the noise. There are believed, however, to be some discrepancies surrounding the presence of a release clause.
Newcastle United sources insisted to The Chronicle that suggestions of a £60million release clause are wide of the mark. However, football.london understands that the Magpies’ failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League last season remains a big factor in the player’s future.
This has been a particular encouragement to Arsenal in these early stages of a potential deal. Yet this remains a story which has the potential to trundle on, especially while Brazil remain in the World Cup with Guimaraes keen to keep his focus on the tournament and let things play out externally for now.
Interest in Morgan Rogers and Bradley Barcola is similarly affected by the summer tournament. With Arsenal now having confirmed their summer plans
Arsenal have, however, been formally active on the profile of Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga. Despite having a £5million bid knocked back, the club remains in discussions over a move for the left winger.
As football.london have reported previously, discussions over a deal between £10million and £15million have dominated, but understandably, Arsenal have entered the formal side of bidding below the asking price, a typical strategy, but both clubs remain engaged with optimism over an agreement in the future.
While a pre-contract proposal has been made to Andria Bartishvili. The Georgian has significant interest from across Europe, with Iberia 1999 involved in summer Champions League qualification matches.
However, the Gunners are set to miss out on Emmanuel Mbemba, who is expected to join AS Monaco. Arsenal had identified the defender as a top market opportunity, but the pathway at the principality club has swayed the 18-year-old.
In terms of outgoings, there has been little to change the understanding that Martin Odegaard could leave this summer. The club captain remains in a state of uncertainty, but he, like the aforementioned players, is part of the World Cup, so this could be another story that drags on throughout the window.
