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.

James Maddison – Leicester City

A lot of supporters have allowed themselves to soak up talk of a move for James Maddison, one that could well break Arsenal’s record transfer fee if completed.

Will it, though?

He’s someone Arteta is a huge admirer of and if we’re looking at the profile of player being eyed this summer then the 24-year-old is an ideal fit.

Whatever happens, it will be expensive. Leicester Mercury journalist Jordan Blackwell has weighed in most recently trying to dampen any Arsenal fires, stating that the fees in question would price Arsenal out of a move. It’s been mentioned that any transfer would move near to Harry Maguire (£80m) territory.

Football.london have reinforced the message that Arsenal are admirers of Maddison, but they also reference the fee as a crucial factor, although are slightly less heavy-handed with a £60m+ figure.

These days it’s impossible to ignore the famous ‘ITK’ TheAFCBell (they’re even verified now), who peddled the Thomas Partey story from start to finish. Such accounts need a lot of scepticism, but they state that Maddison wants the move and Arsenal are prepared to off a four-year deal with an optional extra 12 months that doubles his salary.

Make of that what you will.

Or conversely, you could focus on The Athletic reporting that this is a deal the Gunners ‘are not believed to be actively pursuing a deal at present’.

Houssem Aouar – Lyon

There are a fair few outlets in France that cough up all manner of nonsense during the transfer window (as there is everywhere) and Le10Sport are one to be highly sceptical of.

Mentions of bids having already been lodged have come about although the latest from them suggests it’s all over for Arsenal in regards to Houssem Aouar.

They state that the Gunners have ‘put an end’ to talks with Lyon after seeing a bid just short of €20m being rejected with Lyon wanting somewhere between €20-25m. Claims of a bid from Arsenal are not backed up in the English media, although the interest is.

ESPN have stated that this is a move Arsenal are eyeing up. They need to sell before they buy – which is proving troublesome – and are now being joined in the hunt by Tottenham. Reports that Spurs were proposing a swap involving Tanguy Ndombele for Aouar have been shot down by Telefoot, yet the claims of both north London sides making inquiries remains in tact.

Arsenal are evidently keeping their eye on Aouar, as expected due to their heightened interest last summer, which makes the situation slightly bizarre since if they were so hell-bent on signing him for £35m last time, why are they not stumping up a fee that’s less half of the original asking price?

Martin Odegaard may be playing a very key part in this.

Martin Odegaard – Real Madrid

This one was dead and buried. Martin Odegaard even penned a heartfelt thank message to the club following his return to Real Madrid, one that felt a lot like a goodbye.

Each and every outlet, and pretty much Arteta himself, led with the idea of Odegaard being the number one target for Arsenal in the summer.

Fans were split on him following his spell, having not been won over by the stretches of matches where he was struggling for form after sustaining an injury. However, on song he was a delight to watch though and when in command of the ball his creative spark added a different dimension in central areas.

Can Arsenal do better for the £50m he’s rumoured to cost? Many will point to Aouar being one such man. And this is where some explanation about Arsenal not going gung-ho for the Frenchman can arise.

Either Arteta has had a big change of heart with Aouar or, quite simply, he isn’t the first choice. Odegaard is.

Having felt he was beyond the Gunners’ reach – there was always hope – The Athletic lay out the financial concerns facing Real Madrid and the unavoidable fact that they have to trim their wage bill. They’re cash-strapped.

Odegaard is seen as a ‘project’ who the club are desperate to succeed, yet finance dictates that they will sell him if a significant offer is received. Arteta was totally smitten by the Norwegian and if ‘significant’ is edging closer towards the £30m mark, there will surely be no hesitation.

What also keeps Odegaard in the conversation is that the longer this window goes on, of all the No. 10’s out there it is the 23-year-old who will survive the best without weeks together on the training ground. He integrated very quickly last time out and Arteta may be putting all other playmaker targets on a standby list behind Odegaard.

This one is far from over.