Arsenal - Bayern Munich
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal’s summer transfer window has taken several turns, with fresh reports linking Bayern Munich to a move for Gunners duo Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli. However, both players appear committed to staying in North London, despite growing interest from the German giants.
Trossard, 29, was said to have agreed personal terms on a three-year contract with Bayern Munich, but according to reports, the Belgian winger is prioritising a new and improved deal at Arsenal instead. Having played a key role in Mikel Arteta’s squad since arriving from Brighton, Trossard is believed to be settled at the club and keen to extend his stay.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Martinelli has also been linked with a £75 million switch to Bayern as a potential replacement for Leroy Sané, who recently joined Galatasaray. However, the Brazilian winger remains fully committed to Arsenal and has no intention of leaving this summer.
According toThe Athletic, the 24-year-old is not seeking a move away from the Emirates and is content with his current role under Arteta. Martinelli has firmly established himself as Arsenal’s first-choice left winger since 2022, and the club’s newly appointed sporting director, Andrea Berta, has already underlined the player’s importance to the project moving forward.
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While Bayern have been targeting Arsenal players, the Gunners themselves recently made an ambitious move for Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha. As reported byBild, Arsenal held advanced discussions over a potential deal for the Portuguese international ahead of the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. However, negotiations broke down due to financial concerns, and the club ultimately walked away from the deal.
Bayern Munich - Joao Palhinha
Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha (Image credit: Getty Images)
Palhinha, 30, joined Bayern from Fulham for £45 million last summer but has struggled to secure a consistent role under new manager Vincent Kompany. Despite his pedigree and defensive solidity, the midfielder has found opportunities limited in Bavaria.
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Bayern are reportedly open to offloading Palhinha for a cut-price fee in the region of €25–30 million (£21–26 million) as they reshape their squad ahead of the 2025/26 season. Arsenal’s interest in the player came before their recent signing of Brentford captain Christian Norgaard, and sources suggest that concerns over Palhinha’s age, price, and reduced role at Bayern influenced the club’s decision to end talks.
The timing of Arsenal’s approach, just before the Club World Cup added an extra layer of intrigue to an already eventful summer. With the additions of striker Viktor Gyokeres and centre-back Cristhian Mosquera, Arsenal’s spending now approaches the £200 million mark, reflecting the club’s clear ambition.
Despite Arsenal pulling out of the race, Palhinha continues to attract strong interest across Europe. Serie A champions Inter Milan are reportedly leading the chase, with head coach Cristian Chivu keen to bring him to San Siro. Meanwhile, Premier League sides Manchester United, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Brighton, and former club Fulham have all been linked with the experienced midfielder.
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