Arsenal: Locatelli, Maddison, Aouar, & Odegaard transfer latest

Having wrapped up three deals during this summer transfer window, the remaining areas in need of tending to for Arsenal are clear. There are four departments to strengthen but of them all none are more important than those in the centre of the park.

Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Ben White are strong additions. They all fit snugly into a specific profile in which age and development potential are crucial, constituting a shift in approach from the club away from past failings.

Even if there are still more to come the rumours themselves are all around players in the beginnings of their careers with some experience in their lockers, not lazy transfers for ageing individuals who abandon the notion of progression and instead have the adverse effect.

However, of the three, two of them are additions for the future and not first choice starters. Vital acquisitions who offer excitement and potential but are not going to make a considerable impact on the team in the coming Premier League campaign.

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Arsenal: Manuel Locatelli, James Maddison, Houssem Aouar, & Martin Odegaard transfer latest as Mikel Arteta eyes vital summer signings

It’s those in front of Ben White that are paramount to ensuring Arsenal can begin challenging at the right end of the table and return to the European football they desperately crave.

In goal, Aaron Ramsdale is the main target and at right-back there are a few names fleetingly mentioned to replace the outgoing Hector Bellerin. Important in their own right, the ones who will put more points on the table are central midfield and the elusive playmaker.

This is where Arsenal will ‘win’ or ‘lose’ in the transfer market and based on the players being mentioned to join the club this summer, there is a sense of optimism.

As it stands, however, none of the names mentioned have been signed. Regular updates, many contradicting one another, bend the narratives and add layers of confusion to the pursuits, so here is a round-up of four key names on supporters’ lips.

Manuel Locatelli – Sassuolo

This is an interesting one. Bizarrely so, since it seemed for all the world as if Arsenal were dead and buried in the pursuit of the Italian. The rumours simply won’t die down, though.

The latest out of Italy from Correire dello Sport (via Sport Witness) repeats the sentiments of the past week in that Arsenal are refusing to back down despite the player’s well known desire to join Juventus – the Gunners are ‘really serious’. This following up from previous reports of Locatelli ‘ignoring’ Arsenal’s calls.

Widely reported and since followed by Fabrizio Romano, Juventus have offered Sassuolo a loan deal that includes an obligation to buy for €30m. Setting their stall at €40m, the Serie A side have refused that proposal.

What Arsenal are doing is clever. They have committed fully to the deal, making it clear they will pay the asking price set out and are now biding their time, showing Locatelli how much they want him, in the hopes that the financially weak Bianconeri falter. If that happens, they pounce.

Of course, the sticking point is that the midfielder has his heart set on Juventus. They’re the club he’s supported as a young boy and the history of Italian players moving the Premier League reinforces the chances Max Allegri’s side have of winning the race. However, Sassuolo know how much they can get and won’t settle for less.

Would Arsenal really commit this much effort to a deal they felt was beyond their reach? That’s one side of the argument, with the other being that this could be another classic case of negotiation tactics employed by Sassuolo to get what they want.

Your money would still be on Juve.