Arsenal: 3 most concrete summer transfer links so far

The transfer window. A period of absolute agony coupled with uncontrollable excitement. Well, some of the time, and if you’re of an Arsenal affiliation what has transpired so far might be harder to pinpoint. The Gunners have been linked with pretty much everyone.

With that comes dissection. Filtering through the crap, crappier and a little bit less crap of the transfer rumours, we try to piece together what feels like it may come to fruition and what is mere paper talk designed to put A and B together to get everyone talking.

In the case of Arsenal it’s no surprise that there have been such an outstanding number of links bubbling to the surface. Primed and ready for a full scale rebuild, the fact the club are after near enough every single position on the pitch makes them a prime target for speculation.

Needing a goalkeeper – maybe two – a left-back, a right-back, a centre-back, a couple of midfielders, a playmaker and possibly even a striker, the options available become endless.

Arsenal: 3 most concrete summer transfer links so far as Mikel Arteta eyes major squad overhaul this window

With the window barely a week old and with 11 more to come, there have been some links that have got the pulses going and some that, despite being reliably reported, have raised a few eyebrows.

Mikel Arteta made it clear that he wanted to get his business done early this window just like the rest of the world, but that the European Championships would put a hold on much of the activity. Nonetheless, there have been three names so far to emerge that are more concrete than the rest, and those fans should be keeping a close eye on.

While it isn’t Arsenal’s forte to get anything done quickly, a few of the following names have been gathering some momentum this summer and could be, if not concluded, at least acted upon sooner rather than later.

In some cases, if the club don’t get their act together they could miss out entirely.

1. Albert Sambi Lokonga

Club: Anderlecht
Age: 21
Price: £17m

Most can be forgiven for not knowing a great deal about Albert Sambi Lokonga until about two weeks ago and the Belgian press started linking Arsenal with the midfielder. Since then, he’s either fallen into the ‘smart business’ category or the ‘not going to help us now so what’s the point’ section.

The club aren’t undecided on him though, and an opening bid of around £13m has been lodged for the Belgian.

Lokonga is attracting interest from across Europe but Arsenal have been keeping close tabs for going on years now. As one reporter from The Athletic said, he’s been tracked for a ‘loooooong’ time.

Of course not a Granit Xhaka replacement, the 21-year-old should instead be considered as more of a Matteo Guendouzi alternative. The Frenchman will leave this summer as soon as Arsenal see their valuation met, and Lokonga coming in could be considered as that gap being filled. Still young with plenty of developing to go, of the Thomas Partey ilk he could be nurtured under the Ghanaian and shown the ropes, as it were.

With one bid turned down and Anderlecht wanting about another £4m more, not only are these links concrete, they appear to be nearing a conclusion.

2. Andre Onana

Club: Ajax
Age: 25
Price: £7m

Whatever it is Arsenal are looking to do with Andre Onana, they need to do it quick. Having held an interest back in January when it became clear a backup goalkeeper was needed, the internal appreciation for the Cameroonian has remained in tact.

The case of Mat Ryan has gone cold with other clubs on the continent chasing his signature, including Celtic, as the Gunners seek to acquire a No. 2 who classes as homegrown and arrives at a younger age.

Onana, who has now had his 12-month ban reduced to nine months, will be available to train from September and play from November. That won’t be at Ajax who want to sell him, and they’ll do so for a meagre £7m.

Arteta and Edu are big fans of the 25-year-old and reliable sources indicated that even if his ban was upheld the club would sign him this summer, only for new developments to reveal Arsenal would have to stop sitting on their hands as other clubs circle.

Wanted by many – as expected for a goalkeeper of his calibre – his desire to move to north London will aid Arteta’s case, so long as he decides to bring him in. Bernd Leno’s situation remains uncertain and unlikely to alter until after the Euros, and Ajax’s desire to get this deal done early in the window will force Arsenal’s hand.

Something is bubbling away and whatever happens, needs to happen quickly.

3. Ben White

Club: Brighton
Age: 23
Price: £40-£50m

When news of interest in the England international was first reported in the Mirror, a degree of scepticism emerged. That publication do get stories right but the timing of the links – England call-up and Arsenal looking for a centre-back – meant some uncertainty arose.

However, with major outlets reporting it and continuing to report it, fans best brace themselves for Arsenal bidding a rather worryingly large amount of money on a centre-back.

The latest from The Athletic is that Arsenal’s interest is yet to develop into a formal bid, but that it will arrive. Ben White is now the primary target. As far as a profile goes, he’s an excellent option. Capable of playing in either centre-back role, in a back four, in a back three and in holding midfield, his progressive qualities are precisely what Arsenal need to aid their sluggish build-up. Isn’t there someone else who is supposed to be good at that……?

White’s also young, homegrown, has more room to develop and will fetch solid resale value further down the line if it ever comes to it. Even his big price is said to not be ‘insurmountable’.

The concerns are over how much budget will be left if the deal comes off. An upgrade on Rob Holding and someone with Premier League experience is welcome, but such an outlay when other positions are arguably more important is where the question marks are. There are, of course, worries over William Saliba.

In any case, this is no smokescreen and a formal move for White is imminent.