Arsenal have finally begun activating their summer transfer plans, with David Raya’s permanent move confirmed, talks ongoing for Riccardo Calafiori, and a further two transfers now possible.
Raya spent last season on loan at Emirates Stadium from Brentford, with Mikel Arteta and Edu choosing to activate the £27m buy option negotiated in his initial temporary move. With a goalkeeper brought on, the Gunners are looking to strengthen further defensively, with Calafiori as their main target.
With it having been clear for some time that Thomas Partey will depart this summer, plenty of names have been linked as his potential replacement. At the very top of that list were the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Martin Zubimendi and Douglas Luiz; however, bringing in any of those three now seems impossible.
Though signing players like Amadou Onana, Youssouf Fofana and Joao Gomes remains entirely plausible, with the latter of those names now available to discuss a possible transfer. The Gunners have been tentatively linked to the Wolves star, though his attributes make him the perfect addition for Arteta’s midfield.
According to Transfermarkt, Gomes is valued at €35million (£29.7m) and the Gunners have now received the green light to sign him following Brazil’s Copa America elimination. Following a goalless quarter-final draw against Uruguay after 90 minutes and extra time, Brazil were beaten on penalties with Gomes subbed off in the latter stages of normal time.
However, his first two seasons in Spain have not quite gone to plan, with interest from Emirates Stadium remaining. According to reports in Spain, via Teamtalk, sporting director Edu has been in contact with Barcelona chief Deco to offer him a cash-plus-player bid which would see €35million (£30m) and Eddie Nketiah head to Camp Nou.
With new head coach Hansi Flick said to consider Raphinha ‘far from untouchable’ and Barcelona potentially in the market for a new striker, it could be a sensational deal that is accepted by the Catalan giants.
