Arsenal: 4 leading transfer targets this summer

As is widely agreed, Arsenal have completed just shy of 43% of their transfer dealings this summer. In other words, three of the seven they need to fully strengthen the team. This without factoring in sales, which is a whole different kettle of fish.

What Arsenal were in need of following the end of last season is still mostly in tact today. Nuno Tavares was a move that needed to happen six months earlier to avoid the campaign drifting away as it did, but there is no use crying over spilled milk.

The left-back has arrived to solve a problem position, making it one out of seven.

Albert Sambi Lokonga brings depth into midfield and will make up for the departure of Dani Ceballos, and to some degree Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira, even if the pair were never around to be replaced.

Arsenal: 4 leading transfer targets this summer as Mikel Arteta seeks to bolster four more positions before the window closes

Two out of seven.

Ben White may be listed as a completed transfer, which is factually incorrect, but he’s as good as done. Barring some bizarre medical mishap next week he will become the seventh most expensive defender of all time, on the basis his £50m fee ends up being slightly above that.

Three out of seven.

Everyone is mostly familiar with the other four: goalkeeper, right-back, central midfielder, playmaker. There will only be a maximum of one each for those departments save for some kind of transfer domino effect, and what we’ve learned so far indicates that Mikel Arteta has made his mind up on who to bring for those positions.

Of course, this is all speculation-based. Fans are not privy to what conversations and phone calls are made in the board room or on yachts in the Monaco pier, so we can only work off of what we’re fed. Perhaps deliberately, too.

1. Goalkeeper – Aaron Ramsdale

Club: Sheffield United
Age: 23
Contract expiry: 2024
Asking price: £32m

It’s a rumour that will not die. Why won’t it die? Because it’s not a rumour. It’s a well-documented fact at this stage.

Arsenal want Aaron Ramsdale. Mikel Arteta wants Aaron Ramsdale. He is the number one target for this position and nothing is going to change that.

Or maybe not.

With Sheffield United having knocked back two bids from the Gunners already for their goalkeeper, they’ve told Arsenal, or whoever is foolish enough, to stump up a cool £32m. Pocket money for a backup stopper!

Fortunately, the latest batch of rumours point to some reluctance.

Mike McGrath of The Telegraph reports that Arsenal are not prepared to pay £30m as an up front fee, however may revisit the transfer later in the window under some form of structured deal. If that’s the case, the idea of leaving it late for the Blades to have less time to sign a replacement and then offering worse terms than before makes absolutely no sense.

But heck, at least they’re not keen on paying £30m for a number two. That’s reassuring.

Other targets: Sam Johnstone, Marcus Bettinelli

2. Right-Back – Nothing Concrete At All

Club: Any takers?
Age: Preferably under 24
Contract expiry: Doesn’t matter so long as he’s cheap
Asking price: Within our means

There is nothing forthcoming on the right-back front. Not yet, at least, unless Tyler Adams is included which is a deal highly unlikely to be pulled off.

At the beginning of the window there were numerous links, likely all part of a lengthy list that will remain in tact for the most part. Why it’s all gone cold will be down to a couple of factors: other priorities and Hector Bellerin still being on the books.

Inter are the side most likely to sign the Spaniard, with Bellerin even informing Arsenal of his desire to move to San Siro. The sticking point remains around what structure of deal. Despite earning £60m for Achraf Hakimi, the Serie A champions aren’t keen on a loan with obligation and would rather an optional purchase, which is causing the stalemate.

As per Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Bellerin’s agent will fly to Milan to meet with the club to try and come to some agreement.

In regards to incomings there is nothing concrete. Mert Müldür and Max Aarons have remained within Arsenal’s sights but that is still only paper talk, hinting that if anything does happen at right-back this window it will likely be very late into the window.

Or, the more likely eventuality is, nothing will happen. Calum Chambers will take up the first choice slot and focus will, rightly and understandably, be aimed elsewhere.

Supposed targets: Max Aarons, Mert Müldür, Sergino Dest, Zeki Celik

3. Central Midfield – Ruben Neves (& Manuel Locatelli)

Club: Wolverhampton Wanderers
Age: 24
Contract expiry: 2024
Asking price: £35m

Manuel Locatelli features in round brackets as he’s the one all the headlines are talking about but is so unlikely to come to Arsenal that his inclusion feels unwarranted. Still, as we’re led to believe, he is the primary target for central midfield.

With an offer on the table in waiting, everything emerging from Italy – coincidentally very little on this story comes from the UK press – is that Locatelli would rather stay with Sassuolo for another season than move to north London this summer.

Draw a line, give it a rest.

Apart from him, Ruben Neves is the strongest link. Preliminary talks took place at the beginning of the window but have since died down, although general reports on Arsenal continue to include his name.

TalkSPORT, who should never be trusted, claimed that Manchester United moved ahead of Arsenal in the running for the 24-year-old, which is either total fabrication or agent work to try and kick the Gunners into gear.

There is an air of Neves being a ‘standby’ type option for Arteta having put initial feelers out for him, and it wouldn’t come as any surprise to see this one go from zero to 100 in quick time.

Other targets: Yves Bissouma

4. Attacking Midfielder – James Maddison

Club: Leicester
Age: 24
Contract expiry: 2024
Asking price: £60m+

David Ornstein spoke on Sky Sports on Friday to discuss any potential move for James Maddison, offering an insight that won’t appeal to too many Arsenal fans (at least those who want him).

"“[Maddison] is not one that I can see developing, it would be a huge stretch of Arsenal’s finances and I’m not sure it’s realistic, especially with Emile Smith Rowe signing a new contract,” he said."

He added that this doesn’t mean Arsenal don’t have the money, but that Smith Rowe is now the priority and while another playmaker to compete/help him is on the agenda, it may not be a significant outlay like Maddison. In other words, an inefficient use of funds.

That doesn’t kill the deal, of course, and previous reports of Arsenal being nowhere near signing Thomas Partey or Nicolas Pepe were turned on their heads, so never say never.

Maddison is the only serious option as far as the public know, with other targets are either not being worked on at present or more likely being kept under wraps. Martin Odegaard is half-dead depending on how lavishly Arsenal want to spend and other moves haven’t stretched beyond more than minor talks.

In the words of Kanye West, this one could go right down to the wire, even through the fire.

Other targets: Houssem Aouar, Renato Sanches, Martin Odegaard

5. Striker – Tammy Abraham

Club: Chelsea
Age: 23
Contract expiry: 2023
Asking price: £40m

A bonus fifth position being eyed!

Given it wasn’t high on most peoples’ agendas, excluding Arteta’s, this one get included and it’s full focus on Tammy Abraham. Reports throughout the window of minor interest in Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the already moved on Andre Silva offered some insight into what Arsenal wanted, albeit not concrete links.

The situation with Abraham is different.

Picked up across the UK press, the striker is no longer wanted at Chelsea and nor does he want to be there. Why would he? He played only 17 minutes of football under Thomas Tuchel in the final three months of the season having been top scorer for two campaigns in a row.

But for £40m it comes across as a bizarre use of funds. While fans are in the dark as to how much money Arsenal do have to spend this summer, even with a healthy ‘war chest’, that outlay on a striker who will play second fiddle to Aubameyang comes across as peculiar.

Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette have to be sold beforehand, however. Even for this to make any ground those two have to depart first, and that’s proving tricky enough as it is.

Two out and one in?

Other targets: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Odsonne Edouard