Arsenal make decision on Balogun transfer offer as eyebrows raised over Edu move
Arsenal will go into the 2023/24 season full of confidence after beating title rivals Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday.
The Gunners needed a late deflected goal from Leandro Trossard and penalties to do it, but the win ended a run of eight straight defeats against Pep Guardiola’s side. Mikel Arteta and his players will hope that the narrow victory is a sign of things to come after a positive summer.
Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz all made their debuts at Wembley following high-profile summer transfers. There is still plenty of time for more deals, with the window not closing until September 1.
Arsenal are still chasing a fourth deal, for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, while there are a handful of players who could leave in the coming weeks. Here are the latest rumours involving the club.
Balogun bid rejected
Folarin Balogun is in high demand this summer and Arsenal have turned down an offer from Monaco for the young striker.
Mikel Arteta's dream Arsenal line up as last-gasp January transfers are secured
Balogun impressed on loan at Reims last season and Monaco are keen on signing him after Breel Embolo suffered a serious knee injury. The French side's sporting director Thiago Scuro has a good relationship with his Arsenal counterpart Edu, but the Gunners have rejected the first approach, according to The Athletic.
It is understood that Arsenal would sell Balogun at the right price, which could be as much as £43m (€50m) – a price which has so far put off Inter Milan, who need a striker after losing Romelu Lukaku and Edin Dzeko.
Eyebrows raised over Raya move
Arsenal are working hard to land David Raya (Getty Images)Arsenal are working hard to sign Raya from Brentford, with the Spaniard set to come in and compete with Aaron Ramsdale for the No1 jersey as Matt Turner heads to Nottingham Forest.
Brentford put a £40m price tag on Raya, but Arsenal are confident of negotiating them down to do a deal after Turner’s exit is sealed. Former Gunners defender Lee Dixon has been surprised by the manoeuvres.
"Raya is a brilliant goalkeeper, he's excellent with his feet, he ticks all the boxes. The interesting thing from his point of view is what Arteta has said to him,” Dixon said on behalf of Sky Bet.
"If he does end up signing, what has Arteta said and how has he pitched the club to Raya? Has he said if you go in and play well you are my number one?
"It's an intriguing one, but it's a statement from the club and the manager that he's decided they need another goalkeeper. It took a few by surprise, I'm not totally surprised, but it did raise one of my eyebrows."
Gunners interested in Fati
Ansu Fati is attracting some transfer interest (Marco Steinbrenner/Getty Images)If Spanish outlet Sport are to be believed, Arsenal have had a 'very tempting offer' for Ansu Fati rejected by the player and Barcelona.
The Gunners are reportedly one of the clubs to have expressed their interest in Fati, who has four years left on his contract, which has an eye-catching €1billion (£860m) buy-out clause in it.
Arsenal haven’t been put off by the youngster’s price tag, or the fact that Fati wants to stay and fight for a place at Barca.
Arsenal lose eight players and sign three as January transfer window closes
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
