Arsenal to complete fourth non-permanent transfer move

At the end of last season, as much as new signings were essential, the need to sell and sell well was paramount among the congested summer to-do list. With just under seven weeks gone, Arsenal are yet to sanction a single permanent sale.

Any money available to spend on new additions this transfer window was always going to need supplementing with player sales, which could hint to the lack of activity in and around the club so far.

It’s not known how much cash there is to play with for Mikel Arteta but he is now closing in on a £50m move for Ben White that will take the summer’s spending to around £75m.

Nuno Tavares’ £7.2m arrival was followed by Albert Sambi Lokonga on a deal that could total around £18m. That’s already quite a substantial outlay before even beginning to look at immediate impact signings to come straight into the starting lineup.

Arsenal to complete fourth non-permanent transfer move as Alex Runarsson closes in on loan move to Altay as Arteta tracks Aaron Ramsdale as replacement.

While Matteo Guendouzi and Konstantinos Mavropanos are both initial loan moves with near-certain obligatory purchases, the fact they’ve been signed off as temporary moves is an indication of how troublesome of a selling market it is this summer. William Saliba completes the senior loan exits.

Permanent moves are hugely preferred and, unfortunately, Arsenal won’t be getting one with Alex Runarsson.

A move to Turkey has been on the cards for a while but the details were not yet disclosed. As per football.london, it’s turns out his Altay switch will only be a loan move, with no option or obligation to buy.

Nobody will be especially surprised to hear that. It’s unlikely clubs were queuing up in their droves to sign him.

The newly promoted Super Lig outfit will take the Icelandic goalkeeper on for the whole season, opening the door for a new stopper to join the Gunners this window. Runarsson will travel to Izmir in Turkey this week with Arthur Okonkwo taking his place as the third choice.

Another loan move is of no great use to Arsenal but Runarsson playing regular football elsewhere is nonetheless more beneficial to any hopes of selling him in the future than him sitting on the bench all season long.

It leaves a gap in the squad that Aaron Ramsdale is largely expected to fill. Talks between Arsenal and Sheffield United are at an impasse over the valuation, with the Blades holding out for £30m with the majority paid up front.

There has been an unwillingness from Arteta’s side to meet those demands, yet with two bids already lodged and the profile of goalkeeper the club have set their sights on leaving them with no other viable options, it looks from the outside like a deal with an inevitable £30m conclusion.