Arsenal transfer updates: £42m star set to join, Arteta also eyes bargain midfielder

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The summer transfer window is due to open and Arsenal’s management team are working hard trying to secure key targets. After narrowly missing out on the title for the second consecutive season, Mikel Arteta will be desperate to build a squad capable of wrestling the Premier League trophy away from Manchester City next year.

The Gunners boss is expected to strengthen throughout his squad with a new striker, winger, midfielder and left-back on the agenda this summer. Arsenal will also need a new No.2 goalkeeper if Aaron Ramsdale leaves in search of first team football, so it’s expected to be a busy few weeks ahead in North London.

Let’s take a look at some of the latest transfer stories doing the rounds in the media involving Arsenal:

Arsenal eye Eze

Arteta is looking to bring in another winger to offer support for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli next season, and Arsenal are being strongly linked with a move for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

Widespread reports suggest that Arsenal have a ‘serious interest’ in the 26-year-old and could make a concrete approach over the coming weeks. Eze is currently away with the England squad at Euro 2024 so any potential move will have to wait until his participation in Germany is over.

Understandably, Crystal Palace are reluctant to sell Eze, particularly with Michael Olise close to joining Bayern Munich, but they won’t be able to prevent the likes of Arsenal signing the attacker if they meet his £60m release clause.

Supporters with Crystal Palace tickets will be hugely disappointed to lose both Eze and Olise in the same summer, but they know it will be tough for a club like Palace to keep hold of special young talents once the big guns come calling.

Eze has been hugely impressive for the Eagles in recent seasons and he’d be a terrific signing if Arsenal could lure him to North London. However, the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea and Man Utd are also being linked so we face stiff competition.

Calafiori agrees move

Arteta is also wanting to bring in a versatile left-sided defender and Arsenal are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Italian international has given the green light to joining Arsenal after agreeing personal terms over a four year contract. A £42m deal is close to being agreed between the two clubs, with Arsenal having an excellent relationship with Bologna following the purchase of Takehiro Tomiyasu a few years ago.

Calafiori has emerged as one of the best young defenders in Serie A having starred for Bologna last season after only joining the club from Basel last summer. His impressive displays earned him a place in the Italy squad for Euro 2024, where he featured four times.

The 22-year-old has mainly played as a centre-back for club and country, but he’s also more than comfortable playing at left-back. Given Arsenal’s troubles on the left side of defence, it’s safe to assume Arteta wants Calafiori to be deployed at left-back if he completes his proposed move to the Emirates Stadium.

Oleksandr Zinchenko lost his place last season after his defensive vulnerabilities were exposed. Jakub Kiwior did a reasonable job before Takehiro Tomiyasu returned from injury to play at left-back during the closing weeks of the season.

However, Arsenal need a new left-back and it looks like Calafiori is the man they’ve gone for. He’d also provide cover for Gabriel Magalhaes in the left-sided central defensive role. The Italian’s arrival would cast doubt over the future’s of Zinchenko and Kiwior as at least one is expected to leave this summer.

Osimhen remains a target

Arsenal narrowly missed out on the title last season with many pointing to the fact we don’t have a reliable goal-scorer as one of the main reasons we finished two points behind Man City. Arteta is expected to rectify that issue this summer by bringing in a top class striker.

Benjamin Sesko was the top target but he’s decided to stay at RB Leipzig while Viktor Gyokeres and Joshua Zirkzee have also been strongly linked. However, journalist Dean Jones claims that Victor Osimhen remains a target for Arsenal.

The Nigerian international has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League after becoming one of the hottest goal-scorers in Europe following his exploits for Napoli in Serie A.

His £100m+ asking price appeared to put off Arsenal as the club have been linked with cheaper alternatives in recent weeks. However, Dean suggests that Osimhen could still end up at Arsenal as his ‘guaranteed goals’ makes him an obvious target for the North Londoners.

The transfer insider believes that Chelsea could also provide Arsenal with competition for Osimhen’s signature but neither club has opened any formal talks regarding a deal as yet.

Osimhen would obviously be an exciting signing for Arsenal as he’s proven himself to be one of the best goal-scorers in Europe over the past few years. However, it’s hard to see Arsenal paying around £100m for him considering we also need to strengthen several other areas of the squad this summer.

Rabiot eyed

Arsenal are also showing a keen interest in signing Adrien Rabiot in a free transfer with his contract at Juventus set to expire this summer.

Arteta needs another central midfielder to support Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard next season. Thomas Partey is being tipped for a move after struggling to stay fit the past two years so a replacement is needed.

The likes of Martin Zubimendi, Bruno Guimaraes and Joao Neves have been linked but Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport claims that Arsenal are eyeing a bargain swoop to sign Rabiot.

The French international is available on a free transfer as his contract with Juventus is se to expire and he’s so far failed to agree terms over an extension. Rabiot is a hugely talented midfielder who would be valued at over £50m if he was under contract, so it would be an excellent piece of business if Arsenal could snap him up for nothing.

However, we aren’t the only club in the running for his signature as the likes of Tottenham and Chelsea are also keen, so Arsenal face a fight to get a deal done if Rabiot decides he wants to try a new challenge in England.

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