Arsenal’s transfer plans are in full focus during the final week of the Premier League season. The club have still got a massive challenge on their hands to win the title but will be planning for even tougher times ahead no matter how things play out in the coming seven days.
Should they be champions then Mikel Arteta will have to try and match this year’s achievements, aided by new players and changes across the board as expected. If Manchester City prove to be as relentless as ever then the standard continues to be set and the bar is within reach.
Either way, Arsenal’s summer business is going to be huge for how they move forward. Here, football.london brings you the latest round-up of rumours from across the planet and offers a fresh insight into just how they can be viewed. Starting with the exit door…
Seven players for sale
Arsenal will welcome offers for Eddie Nketiah, Aaron Ramsdale, Emile Smith Rowe, Nuno Tavares, Kieran Tierney, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Reiss Nelson this summer as they look to revamp the squad available to Arteta. The Mirror reports that as well as looking for sales of back-up players, Cedric Soares, Mohamed Elneny, and Arthur Okonkwo will all leave at the end of their deals in just over one month as well.
Chasing additional cash to make improvements to the team, as well as clearing out those that have played a bit-part role under the head coach this year and previously, the Gunners have a big task on their hands to keep things fresh. The money from academy players being sold will also count as pure profit on the books and be a massive boost to the PSR position.
football.london say: Ruthless, Arsenal need to be ruthless. To be the best they have to act like the best and perhaps nobody has done that better than Manchester City in recent years.
Pep Guardiola’s side have sold and replaced some influential players in the squad even when they were performing. There has been no second thought if sporting levels weren’t met. Arsenal are now in a spot to take these steps themselves.
The building block of summer 2021 has paid off in some aspects – Ben White, Ramsdale’s effective few years in goal – but ultimately has only been a foundation to build on. The quality signed since has taken things up a notch and now it’s time to move on again.
Arteta has demonstrated with his minutes just how much he really sees some of these players being useful and there is little point in standing by waiting for time to pass. Arsenal can make good use of their enhanced prize money to help fund things, and cutting down the squad in key areas is just another important part to being the slick operation that is needed at the very top.
Martin Zubimendi proposal made
Long-term Arsenal target Martin Zubimendi has been on the receiving end of an opening proposal, reports in Spain suggest. The 25-year-old has been on the radar for Edu Gaspar and the club for some time without a deal coming through so far.
With a £53million release clause that Real Sociedad are said to be holding out for, Arsenal have the ball in their court, it seems. What is apparent is that finding back-up to Declan Rice in midfield is vital for the summer window after Amadou Onana was looked at during the winter months.
