As Arsenal gear up for their pre-season tour of the United States at the end of July, there has been no rush to get early transfers taken care of.
This time last year, the Gunners had already added Kai Havertz to their ranks after a big-money move from Chelsea. They had also made their first sale, with Pablo Mari leaving for Monza, while Granit Xhaka’s Bayer Leverkusen move was just days away.
Some might find themselves wondering whether the presence of summer international tournaments has slowed things down. Arsenal have players away at the European Championships and Copa America, while potential targets have also been in action for their national sides.
While pen hasn’t been put to paper when it comes to such players, the noise has been getting louder this week. Here are the latest lines from around the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal could be ready for some big ins and outs.
Bologna chief makes Calafiori admission
Bologna technical director Giovanni Sartori has given Arsenal fresh hope in the race for Riccardo Calafiori. The centre-back, one of Italy’s better performers at Euro 2024, has been eyed by both Arsenal and Juventus with a fee north of £40m mooted.
“There is talk of Juventus but also of many other teams,” Sartori told Sky Sports Italia. “At this moment we will try to keep him. If important offers were to arrive, we will have to think about it.
“I am not saying that we will sell him because the president has said that he wants to keep the whole team, but we will certainly make some evaluations. I do not think he will go to Juventus, he will probably go in a different transfer window, but I repeat that we would like to try to keep him.”
Real Madrid want Saliba
William Saliba is at the top of Real Madrid’s list of targets, according to Mundo Deportivo. The Champions League holders are in the market for a new centre-back after allowing captain Nacho to leave for the Saudi Pro League.
Madrid have also been strongly linked wtih Saliba’s compatriot Leny Yoro. It may end up being the case that teenager Yoro is the more affordable option as he enters the final year of his Lille contract.
Saliba has plenty of time left on his Arsenal deal, meaning the Gunners shouldn’t be in any rush to sell. However, Los Blancos have already added a number of the centre-back’s France team-mates to their ranks, with Kylian Mbappe the latest to join.
Ex-Gunner Reine-Adelaide on the move
Former Arsenal talent Jeff Reine-Adelaide is on the lookout for the eighth club of his career at the age of 26. The midfielder, who played eight times for the Gunners before returning to his native France in 2018, spent last season in Belgium with Molenbeek.
“Last season, clubs were interested in my situation but needed to be reassured on a physical level,” Reine-Adelaide told L’Equipe (via Get French Football News). “I needed a club that would allow me to find rhythm and fitness again.”
Reine-Adelaide moved to Lyon for around £20m in 2019 after an impressive year at Angers, but injury plagued his time with the club. Now, after proving his fitness, he is keen to prove a point to those who wrote him off after those setbacks.
“Some have written me off, but apart from the ACLs, I have never been a very injured player,” he added. “I have been labelled as a fragile player, even though it’s not true.”
