Arsenal transfer state of play as Arteta looks to secure eight deals next week
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has seven days to streamline his squad before the summer transfer window slams shut.
The Emirates hierarchy have spent more than £200million on new signings this summer, with the Gunners back in the Champions League and aiming to go one better in the Premier League title race. The arrivals of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya have made it a statement summer in North London, but Arsenal's focus is now on outgoings ahead of deadline day.
Keen to generate cash which could be used to fund further moves or help balance the books, Gunners technical director Edu and the club's transfer team are busy negotiating deals to sell unwanted stars. But time is running out, with one week to go until the window slams shut at 11pm on Friday, September 1.
Here's a look at Arsenal's state of play in the transfer window.
Incomings
As Arsenal fans know and are delighted with, the Gunners have already got their hands on their priority targets. Rice, Havertz and Timber were all recruited in pre-season, strengthening both Arteta's starting XI and squad depth well in advance of the new season.
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But the prospect of more incomings before the window closes hasn't been ruled out. Ajax forward Mohammed Kudus, who scored a hat-trick on Thursday in what could be his final game for the Dutch giants, has been linked by numerous outlets with a big-money move to the Emirates.
However, newly-minted West Ham (thanks to Rice's sale) are leading the race after reaching an agreement over personal terms with the Ghanaian, having seemingly ousted former frontrunners Brighton. £43million-rated Kudus is keen on a switch to the Premier League and if Arsenal are able to match West Ham's offer, there's a good chance that he'd opt to join the Gunners.
Mohammed Kudus is expected to leave Ajax and sign for West Ham (Kostadin Andonov/BSR Agency/Getty Images)Another target is Brighton striker Evan Ferguson, who's been described in reports as a long-term target for Arsenal, with a move more likely to materialise next summer. The 18-year-old Republic of Ireland international, rated at a whopping £100m, has already proven himself down on the south coast and Brighton are braced for a bidding war should he enjoy another fruitful season.
For now, though, Arteta says that there's nothing in the pipeline for Gunners fans to get excited about, and should the opportunity arise, it won't solely be his decision. "It's a decision we make as a club with a lot of people involved," the Arsenal manager explained. "There are a lot of elements to that, but my focus is on just getting the best out of the squad that we have right now.
"We are in the middle of the competition, we are open in the transfer market both ways, because we still have things to do, both ways maybe. But that's my aim."
Evan Ferguson is a target for Arsenal in 2024 (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Outgoings
There's been something of a clear-out operation at the Emirates this summer, with players who are deemed surplus to requirements being told that they're free to walk through the exit door. The Gunners still want a good deal, though, and that's perhaps why a number of stars who aren't in Arteta's short or long-term plans remain at the club.
Kieran Tierney is one player in that position, although he's close to securing a move away. Real Sociedad have reached an agreement to take the Scottish left-back on a season-long loan in a deal which doesn't include a buy option.
Tierney, 26, was once tipped to be a future Arsenal captain but since the arrivals of Olesksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jakub Kiwior, he's dropped down in the pecking order. Real Sociedad are in the Champions League and have consistently challenged the top four in Spain for the past few years, so Tierney will continue to play at a high level while on loan.
Kieran Tierney is set to join Real Sociedad on loan (Robin Jones/Getty Images)Have your say! Should Arsenal keep any of these players who they want to sell? Join the debate in the comments section.
Another seemingly imminent departure is that of striker Folarin Balogun, who's been in demand all summer long. The USA international endured a prolific loan spell with French side Reims last season and looks set to return to Ligue 1 with a permanent switch to Monaco.
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A £40m deal has reportedly been agreed, despite Mirror Football learning this week that Balogun was keen on a move to Arsenal's London rivals, Chelsea. The 22-year-old featured twice for the Gunners in pre-season and is currently nursing a foot injury.
Folarin Balogun has decided to join AS Monaco amid interest from Chelsea (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)Meanwhile, Nuno Tavares is the subject of interest from Premier League duo Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa. Both clubs are keen to sign a left-back in the next week and have identified the Portuguese defender, who enjoyed a productive loan spell with Marseille last term.
Albert Sambi Lokonga is another summer 2021 signing on his way out, with Brighton now chasing his signature. According to talkSPORT, the Belgian midfielder is now being pursued by Roberto de Zerbi and co, who initially want to sign him on loan after a deal to sign Lille's Carlos Baleba for £26m stalled.
Lokonga had been in talks to reunite with former Anderlecht boss Vincent Kompany at newly-promoted Burnley, but reports elsewhere claim that talks over personal terms reached an impasse and the transfer fell through. There's also a host of other players up for sale who don't seem to be on the verge of an imminent exit but could find new clubs in the lead-up to deadline day.
Rob Holding, Cedric Soares and Nicolas Pepe have all been tipped for moves, but one player who Arsenal will put a fight to keep is Gabriel Magalhaes. None other than Real Madrid and Saudi Arabian champions Al Ittihad have been linked with interest, with the latter side allegedly making a lucrative contract proposal.
But Arteta is adamant that Gabriel isn't for sale, even though the left-sided centre-back is yet to start a Premier League game this season. The Gunners boss is sure about another thing, too, it's going to be a "busy" final week.
"There are some movements happening," Arteta revealed ahead of Saturday's clash with Fulham. The last week is going to be busy. Nothing that we can announce at the moment.
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