Although Arsenal have been left behind by their neighbours Tottenham in terms of transfer spending this summer, there is no panic for the Premier League champions who are working on deals aplenty in the background.
The Gunners want to bring in four or five top-quality signings. Here Daily Mail Sport brings you the latest from inside the Gunners camp about who might come in — and who might be expendable.
Who are they looking at?
Leandro Trossard’s pending departure from Arsenal is significant, as it opens the door for the club’s major transfer business of the summer.
Work is being carried out in tandem on Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola and Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa. Those familiar with Andrea Berta’s work know how the Arsenal sporting director likes to conduct parallel projects.
Of course, while a £17million fee has been agreed with Besiktas for cult hero Trossard, the Belgian will wait until after the World Cup to decide if they are the club for him. Others are in the wings. But the willingness to accept the offer shows Arsenal’s desire to move on.
Another striker, a left-sided forward, a midfielder, centre back or full back and a goalkeeper are all deemed necessary to supplement the Arsenal squad.
France’s Bradley Barcola (right) is on Arsenal’s radar as he has been unable to agree terms with his current club Paris Saint-Germain
Arsenal have agreed a £17million fee with Besiktas for cult hero Leandro Trossard but the Belgian will wait until after the World Cup to decide if they are the club for him
They had 15 players at the World Cup and fatigue will have to be factored in as they look to hit the ground running for the start of the new season. The collateral damage from a title-winning season has left Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice struggling to train at the England camp. Each player involved in the USA will also have a three-week rest period, impacting on pre-season plans.
An overhaul of their medical staff was deemed necessary and two new fitness coaches have been employed: 29-year-old Jose Jimenez is arriving from Bayer Leverkusen and Antonio Gomes is coming in from Braga.
Consequently, being robust is a key characteristic for any potential targets.
Villa have been telling all who will listen that Rogers is not for sale despite their need to generate player revenue to meet financial guidelines. But there is a belief a British record £130m would open the door to Arsenal negotiations.
There have similarly been rumblings that Barcola is not available but the France international has been reluctant to agree new terms on a contract with PSG since last year and is aware they are working on adding RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande and Maghnes Akliouche from Monaco, another attacking midfielder.
Barcola is understood to be open to listening what suitors such as Arsenal and Liverpool have to say.
An Arsenal delegation travelled to watch him against Sweden at the World Cup last week and to establish with his representatives what his plans are. The price would be similar to Rogers’ reputed value.
The England man is said to be keen to speak to the Gunners and, unlike Barcola, has Premier League experience. Rogers is less of a winger, more an attacking midfielder, but that versatility always appeals to Mikel Arteta.
Morgan Rogers is keen to talk to the Gunners about a possible move from Villa to the Emirates – but the Midlands club are holding out for around £130m
Declan Rice will be exhausted after the World Cup and the Gunners know that fatigue will have to be factored in as they look to hit the ground running for the start of the new season
Who is on the way out?
It’s no secret that Gabriel Martinelli, who has interest from Saudi, and Gabriel Jesus, who is available for £18-20m as Premier League suitors circle, will also be sacrificed in the Premier League champions’ refurb.
Those two Brazilians will join Trossard as the major players to depart.
Anyone else on their radar?
Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi is another Arsenal admire, as do neighbours Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool and Barcelona. Yet Bournemouth are desperately trying to keep their squad together for a season in Europe under Marco Rose and that will be reflected in the asking price of around £90m.
Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez has been on Arteta’s wishlist for some time, too. The Argentine wants Barcelona but Atletico would prefer to sell elsewhere. Yet again, the fee would be over £100m.
Arsenal have considered Chelsea and Manchester United’s £50m target Crysencio Summerville at West Ham. They have been offered Christos Tzolis from Club Bruges and Leverkusen’s 18-year-old Bosnia winger Kerim Alajbegovic too. The latter’s Leverkusen team-mate, striker Christian Kofane, has also been suggested.
Yet the failed move for Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga depicts an attitude where they will only go so far financially for potential this summer. Manchester City will pay £12.5m for the winger who turns 17 on Friday.
The interest in Sandro Tonali was different. Newcastle sources maintain Arsenal were the Italian’s preferred choice. Yet the figures weren’t stacking up for the Gunners, as they didn’t for Manchester United, and in the end Roberto De Zerbi’s persistence convinced Tonali the other side of north London was worth listening to.
A £100m transfer fee and six-year contract, on wages of around £280,000 a week, were considered by Arsenal to be sums better utilised elsewhere.
Eli Junior Kroupi is another Arsenal admire but Bournemouth are trying to keep their squad together for a season in Europe under Marco Rose
Arsenal have considered making a move for Chelsea and Manchester United’s £50m target Crysencio Summerville from West Ham
Arsenal have been rebuffed in an initial enquiry for his team-mate Bruno Guimaraes. A first offer around £55m was to test the water. The Brazilian wants the move, as do his representatives, but Newcastle can ill-afford another high-profile departure. Club accountants though may argue Guimaraes is 28 and accepting anything above £65m would represent financial sense.
Regardless, Berta has deviated to another long-term target and enquired about Bournemouth’s Alex Scott. As with Manchester United, the message is he is not for sale but the 22-year-old is open to opportunities this window. However, there is a belief it would take £80m all in to make it happen.
Scott or Guimaraes are considered more viable than Enzo Fernandez, for example, with Chelsea still chasing £120m for the wantaway Argentine who has some admirers at Arsenal.
As with Manchester City, United and Chelsea, Arsenal are also maintaining interest in Lille’s teenage prodigy Ayyoub Bouaddi, 20-year-old Caleb Yirenkyi of Nordsjaelland, and Boca Juniors’ Tomas Aranda.
Rumours of Martin Odegaard’s possible departure continue to simmer but reports of his agent Bjorn Kvarme talking to Galatasaray in Istanbul last week were unfounded.
What about at the back?
Defensively, options continue to be explored at both full-back positions and centre back.
Ezri Konsa is one that Arsenal have shown tentative interest in. Those close to the player say the deal has a chance but Aston Villa value him closer to £50m while the Gunners’ view is more like £35m.
Maxence Lacroix is another who has been talked about but Chelsea seems a more likely destination for the Crystal Palace defender. West Ham’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been offered and not totally dismissed but is one of ‘a number of options pushed’ to them.
Maxence Lacroix is another who has been talked about at Arsenal but Chelsea seems a more likely destination for the Crystal Palace defender
Arsenal may well let goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga leave after just one season at the club
At goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga could yet leave for his £5m clause so Illan Meslier, a free agent now he has left Leeds United, is under consideration. Prospect Tommy Setford is due to stay as No 3 keeper.
Piero Hincapie is on Barcelona’s list but is expected to stay following his loan option from Leverkusen being made permanent. Riccardo Calafiori was discussed as a possibility by Real Madrid but should remain, especially now Jose Mourinho has added Marc Cucurella from Chelsea.
Ben White still has suitors keen to see if Arsenal will sell but his medial ligament injury is a concern for some while he wants to continue playing Champions League level. Likewise Ethan Nwaneri following an inauspicious loan at Marseille. Hamburg are also waiting to see if Arsenal will drop their asking price for Fabio Vieira as they try to recoup £17m.
It’s one of many strands expected to untangle during what will be a busy seven weeks of transfer business.
