There are just a few days remaining of the transfer window, and still plenty left for Arsenal to do.
Their first job is relatively simple: confirm Mikel Merino’s arrival from Real Sociedad. The Gunners have agreed an initial £28million deal for the Spaniard, and he will become their third signing of the summer transfer window following the arrivals of David Raya and Riccardo Calafiori.
Beyond that things are a little more up in the air. Let’s start up front, where it seems the next closest deal to completion is the exit of Eddie Nketiah. As football.londonrevealed earlier this month, Crystal Palace are interested in the 25-year-old, and the Eagles have now formalised their interest in the form of a £25million initial bid, with a further £5million in add ons.
Arsenal had already agreed a similar deal with Nottingham Forest to allow the England international to leave the club, so it is thought that the deal should progress. Nketiah’s departure is likely to take Arsenal’s incomings from academy players over the £70million-mark after Emile Smith Rowe, Mika Biereth, Charlie Patino and Brooke Norton-Cuffy’s departures, added to the sell on fees received for Mark McGuinness and Omari Hutchinson.
If Nketiah is to leave, Arsenal will be low on numbers in the forward areas. Gabriel Jesus is out again with a minor groin problem, and with the Brazilian’s recent availability struggles, there are fears Arsenal could be left with Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard as their only central striking options should any problems prove to be more long-term. Arteta all but acknowledged this after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa.
“We are a little bit short,” he said to Sky Sports of his options up top. “If we can do something we will do it but at the moment we love the ones we have, they are really, really good.”
Nico Williams would have been Arsenal’s primary target this window, but that deal seems highly unlikely to be completed as things stand. Simon Adingra is player who has been looked at. A strong presser, good dribbler and versatile enough to play on either side, the Ivorian would tick a lot of Arsenal’s boxes. It has been suggested that he could cost up to £50million, however.
Raphinha, meanwhile, is another player who has been looked at in the past. He could be available with Barcelona needing to shift players in order to register new summer transfers.
The next area where there could be some movement is the goalkeeping position. David Raya is firmly No.1 at Arsenal now and re-emphasised this with a world class save at Villa Park on Saturday. Aaron Ramsdale is keen to secure a move elsewhere, and the Gunners are unlikely to stand in his way if the right offer comes in.
Arsenal have held firm that they would like a permanent exit for Ramsdale this summer, and have rejected suggestions of a loan from Ajax and Wolves accordingly. As the deadline approaches, though, the Gunners’ resolve could be tested by a loan offer with an option or obligation to buy included into the deal.
Wolves remain interested in the England international. This deal would appear to make the most sense right now, given that their current second-choice option Dan Bentley was subject to interest from Arsenal earlier this summer. Bentley has worked with Inaki Cana before during his time at Brentford and was once in the Arsenal academy system before moving to Southend at a young age.
Southampton are also interested in Ramsdale, though. If a deal for Bentley cannot be completed then Arsenal have kept tabs on Joan Garcia of Espanyol. The young Spaniard would cost above £25million after his release clause increased last week.
