Arsenal: 4 summer transfers close to being completed

The summer transfer window is heating up and Arsenal have been linked with a host of arrivals and departures, all without the window officially opening yet. Efforts are being made to add to the squad but as of yet no sales have been sanctioned, and they will take precedence.

Mikel Arteta will have enjoyed some well deserved rest. He may still be enjoying some, and the same applies to the majority of the club staff who, despite having a mountain of tasks ahead of them this summer, need some time to relax after a unique and stressful campaign.

That hasn’t stopped the club being linked with a variety of signings across the pitch as well as edging closer to lessening the wage bill, and whoever was left at London Colney to keep answering the phone has had his plate full.

Starting out with a terrifying to-do list stacked full of work, the job has gradually become even more daunting with news of other players wanting to leave – which has prompted even more targets to be pursued.

4 Arsenal transfers close to being completed as Mikel Arteta rebuilds squad for next season

Facing upwards of ten exits, as of yet no player has been shown the exit door, whether through a loan, or sale in some pre-agreement with the window opening on June 9.

There has been movement, however.

A few of the outcasts are being linked with moves away while potential arrivals are edging nearer to the Emirates Stadium doors. Doing business early remains as important as ever for all clubs during this period, even if such luxury rarely comes to fruition.

It does seem like Arsenal are getting there. There are a few irons in the fire and of all the talk at present, these four are the closest to being completed. Who knows what may happen this summer, though!

1. Matteo Guendouzi – Marseille

Interested club: Marseille
Rumoured fee: €12m+

This is why buying young players is so beneficial. Matteo Guendouzi arrived for £7m, had a strong first season then fell foul to his attitude, being shunned from the Arsenal side by Arteta and never seeing the light of day for the final eight Premier League fixtures.

Hertha Berlin took him off Arsenal’s hands last season and he only started 19 league games. It was a solid enough loan spell but hardly a career-changing time with a bottom half Bundesliga team.

But still clubs want to sign him. Being young offers potential and since he was bought cheap it means he won’t break the bank. Investing in players such as Guendouzi is mostly risk free. Even after 18 or so terrible months as an Arsenal player, clubs still want him.

The team in question are Marseille who’re way in front of any other clubs in trying to secure his signature. They’ve been the side pushing the boat out for him and regular updates from France and elsewhere have Guendouzi already agreeing to personal terms and being shown around the club, with all that’s left to arrange being the fee.

As per Le10 Sport, Arsenal are playing hard ball. Demanding ‘well over €10m’, the fact there is an extension option in the midfielder’s contract means the Gunners are haggling on the basis he has two years left.

However, a ‘quick agreement’ is expected and this one could get over the line shortly.

2. Andre Onana – Ajax

Interested club: Arsenal
Rumoured fee: €2m-€9m

Arsenal weren’t supposed to need a new goalkeeper. Well, at least not a new No. 1. It just goes to show that nothing in football is linear, not least the summer transfer window.

Preparing for a mass overhaul, all plans in place were with an eye on outfield positions. Bernd Leno’s future threw a spanner in the works as the German joined the growing group of senior players on the books looking for an exit.

The current first choice stopper won’t push for a move despite his desire to play regular European football (you did play some part in not having that yourself, Bernd) and if a suitable offer comes in then he will leave for a ‘new adventure’. However, with Arsenal chasing Andre Onana it spells an inevitable exit for the 29-year-old.

Onana can’t play football right now. He hasn’t been able to since February, and he might not be able to again until next February. Nonetheless, Arsenal will sign him regardless of the outcome of his CAS appeal against a doping ban.

If the ban is upheld he’ll be available for a minuscule £1.5m. If it’s reduced, the Cameroonian will still be available at a bargain £7m.

A verdict is due within the next week and once it is, Arsenal will seal the deal.

3. Granit Xhaka

Interested clubs: Roma, Borussia Monchengladbach
Rumoured fee: €20m-€25m

Having shot to prominence, this one has since gone a bit cold. The calm before the storm, most likely. Or just hopefully.

Wherever he goes, it looks increasingly likely that Arsenal will be bidding farewell to Granit Xhaka this summer. Convinced to stay by Arteta three windows ago, the likelihood is that it was agreed under the impression that when the time was right to depart, he’d be allowed to do so. This definitely feels like the time.

Jose Mourinho, of all people, is the man who is closest to granting the Swiss his wish having long admired the player – a feeling that is mutual. Xhaka would suit Serie A down to a tee and one can effortlessly envisage him in a Mourinho side.

It’s all about agreeing on a fee now. Roma have tested the water with a derisory opening bid of €13m as Arsenal hold out for €20m+ with add-ons. Given the desires of all parties this one should be concluded soon enough, predominantly since Xhaka wants his future wrapped up before Euro 2020 kicks off.

Arsenal also need to sew this one up quickly given such an key member of the starting lineup, let alone the squad, has to be replaced and upgraded accordingly. After a lull in the reporting of this, an update is overdue.

4. Emi Buendia

Interested clubs: Arsenal, Aston Villa
Rumoured fee: £35m-£40m

This one is heating up. It’s been impossible to avoid the speculation surrounding Emi Buendia. He is the talk of the town.

He’s also the source of a bid as two clubs have made their opening offers to Norwich, neither being accepted. The exact figure isn’t known but both Arsenal and Aston Villa have submitted ‘£30m+’ figures, which could well be a flat £30m with a few add-ons thrown in for good measure.

Either way, while it will take more cold, hard cash to lure the Argentine away from Carrow Road, his departure will happen soon enough. Both interested sides are due to up their bids in the coming days and a deal is said to be ‘close’.

Arteta clearly wants the 24-year-old and with the first bid made it’s now highly unlikely that the plug will be pulled. Negotiations will be harder to complete with Buendia away in South America once the Copa America kicks off, where he is already, and the next week or so will be crucial steps in the process.

Who does he plump for, though? Villa have shown they’re willing to spend big and they have the cash to blow, while Emi Martinez will also be having a word with his international teammate in the training camp trying to lure him to the midlands.

Arsenal surely have more pulling power, right? Right? No point messing around here, there’s competition and we already endured two awful losses to Villa last season. Please, not another one.