Arsenal: 4 crucial upcoming transfers in summer window

Arsenal have yet to complete a deal at the quarter stage of the window, while only one senior player has left the club on an initial loan deal. So far, it’s all quiet on the ‘northern’ front.

Quiet it terms of the London Colney entrance buzzer, but not in terms of the speculation. It’s been full steam ahead on the rumour train with an obscene amount of players being linked with a move to Arsenal, none of which have come to fruition.

But they will. Three will, in fact.

Nuno Tavares is next up with a medical completed and all that is left to do being signing on the dotted line and lifting the shirt aloft. He will arrive as a smart signing on paper, providing vital cover in a problem area all for a relatively cheap fee, on a long contract and with age on his side.

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Arsenal: 4 crucial upcoming transfers in summer window as Mikel Arteta aims to bolster other positions following imminent arrivals

There are still question marks over his attitude and defensive capabilities, but Arsenal have tracked him heavily and Mikel Arteta signed off on the deal therefore he must feel any creases can be ironed out.

Albert Sambi Lokonga, whose name is still not followed by ‘Arsenal player’, will be followed by that soon enough and he’ll add depth in the midfield behind Thomas Partey, his most similar profile within the squad.

Ben White is a deal trying to be hijacked by Everton, an ambitious move that with some confidence – although never say never – would be hugely surprising to see pulled off. All signs point to an Arsenal arrival following England’s Euro adventure which will become a club-record signing for a defender.

Amidst all of that there will be departures possibly reaching double figuresp, as the outlays need supplementing in order to move onto the next stage. Richard Garlick and co have their hands full.

Yet should Arsenal stop there with the three players brought in, then they will be firmly up the proverbial creek without a paddle. Two backup signings and a central defender? All hell would break loose.

That won’t be the case, however, and across the rest of the squad more work is underway to plug gaping gaps elsewhere.

There are four positions to tend to following the completion of the aforementioned trio. All may not be successful as the quantity of work will leave some areas short, but the four in question are what supporters will be looking at.

And in those positions, there have been a lot of links.

1. Goalkeeper

Players linked:

• Aaron Ramsdale
• Freddie Woodman
• David Raya
• Andre Onana
• Mat Ryan

Whatever happens between now and the end of the transfer window, Arsenal will sign one goalkeeper. At least.

While it is disappointing for him, at least Bernd Leno hasn’t made it all the way to the end of the European Championships, which means work can start sooner on sorting out his future. He will still get his holiday, of course, but a sit down with all parties (if one hasn’t happened already) to discuss the next step is vital.

As of yet he’s been linked with nobody concretely. If it stays like that then he looks destined to remain as an Arsenal player, probably for one more season.

With Mat Ryan gone and both Alex Runarsson and Arthur Okonkwo due to leave on loan this summer, the need for a number two option is unavoidable.

Aaron Ramsdale appears to have jumped to the top of the list according to the rumours due to his homegrown status, age and Premier League experience, but for £30m? Really? Even by Arsenal standards it’s a hugely questionable move to throw that kind of money at a No. 2 stopper.

Andre Onana’s case has gone cold and fears are now that he’ll move to Italy.

2. Right-Back

Players linked:

• Max Aarons
• Emerson Royal
• Tyler Adams
• Mert Müldür
• Zeki Celik
• Noussair Mazraoui

Looking at the transfer window and working your way down the priority list, right-back probably ranks as the least essential of all the areas in need of strengthening.

Do Arsenal need a new first choice right-back? Absolutely. But if someone points a gun to your head and makes you choose one position that needn’t be dealt with this window then it’s the one where Calum Chambers can fill in.

If Arsenal were to start the season with Chambers at right-back, there wouldn’t be too many complaints if other areas were bolstered. Naturally there can be an improvement – ideally someone with a couple of yards more pace – but the Englishman took big strides as the season progressed to the point where he was a solid and reliable option.

The benefit of him being able to tuck inside when Arsenal are in possession and adopt the usual 2-3-5 formation strengthens his case, as well as having a wicked delivery on him matched only by Kieran Tierney on the opposite flank.

A position with multiple targets linked, as the summer wears on it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see right-back be left until the end.

3. Central Midfield

Players linked:

• Manuel Locatelli
• Renato Sanches
• Ruben Neves
• Franck Kessie
• Eduardo Camavinga
• Yves Bissouma
• Denis Zakaria
• Piotr Zieliński

The above list could easily be twice as large if it included every link since the start of the summer suggested by even the most unreliable sources, while already it features a good fistful of questionable ones.

Regardless of how many are being linked, one has to make their way through the Emirates doors working on the basis that Lokonga’s signing goes through as predicted.

Manuel Locatelli is the name on everyone’s lips at the minute as Arsenal show concrete interest, even if the overwhelming likelihood is that once Juventus cough up the money Sassuolo are after he will move to Turin. There is still hope, however faint.

It’s such an imperative position and arguably the most important of all. Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny, should the latter stay, will both be off for six weeks in the winter for AFCON, leaving only Lokonga and Joe Willock (another uncertainty) left to man the fort with the Premier League untested Miguel Azeez.

If anything there is a case for two to be brought in, although finances and realism dictate that that will be beyond the Gunners’ reach.

For what it is Arteta wants to mould Arsenal into, no position has more say on the matter than the man to partner Partey. Xhaka’s shoes are the biggest to fill and of all the players who’re brought in this window none have to be as successful and ready to hit the ground running as central midfield.

4. Attacking Midfield

Players linked:

• James Maddison
• Nabil Fekir
• Martin Odegaard
• Houssem Aouar
• Julian Brandt

This is such an interesting position and the last of the ‘essentials’ this summer window (there is an argument about a new striker but nothing significant has emerged so far for somewhere not in urgent need).

What adds to the intrigue, in a very similar way to the central midfielder options, is the differing profiles that Arsenal have been connected with. That point can also be seen from another perspective which is that the Gunners don’t actually know what they want, which is obviously concerning.

Equally, while new stories emerge every day with varying degrees of legitimacy it’s easily the case that there is a clear plan but supporters are informed otherwise. It’s all fairly uncertain what will transpire having seen a bid for Buendia knocked back and links to James Maddison, so it’s a case of placing our faith into the club. All that can be done.

Where there is some element of assurance is that this position won’t be filled with a cheap last-minute alternative. No club in their right mind would fork out £50m+ on a central defender and leave themselves shortchanged to acquire someone for a position that is currently only being fronted by a 20-year-old.

If there is an option at less than the £60m+ quoted for Maddison with equal ability then it naturally makes sense to go for them, but the club can’t have left themselves in a position where their primary targets are beyond their financial means due to their expenditure elsewhere. That’s the hope, anyway.

Another vital position to fill to ease the burden on Emile Smith Rowe.