The summer transfer window opened on 15 June, so Arseblog News is reluctantly donning its hazmat suit, mask firmly in place, trusty poo-o-meter in hand, and taking a cautious peek inside to gauge the strength of the various whiffs being generated.
As you’d expect, there are plenty of names doing the rounds as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen the Champions of England, particularly in the attacking positions.
While further departures are expected, there has been far less noise on that front. Karl Hein and Jakub Kiwior have already moved on, but beyond that the rumour mill has been relatively subdued. Give it time.
Note – the lower a poo-o-meter rating, the more we believe the cited move will happen.
IN
Christos Tzolis, Club Brugge
Journalists David Ornstein and Sami Mokbel report that Arsenal have been offered the chance to sign Club Brugge and Greece international Christos Tzolis for around €40 million and are weighing up the opportunity.
Of all the names currently being linked, this one appears to have the most substance behind it. That’s probably why we’ve already reported it.
Source: The Athletic / BBC Sport
Poo-o-meter rating: 💩💩
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Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa
The usually reliable Hand of Arsenal account claims Aston Villa’s star man has informed potential suitors, including Chelsea and Manchester United, that his preferred destination is the Emirates and that he is keen for a new challenge.
It’s not the first time Rogers has been linked with Arsenal, which suggests there may be genuine interest from Arteta’s side. The obvious issue is cost. England internationals rarely come cheap and Villa, despite their annual dance with the Premier League’s financial regulations, won’t be in the mood to hand out discounts.
Source: Various (including @HandofArsenal)
Poo-o-meter rating: 💩💩💩
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Ayyoub Bouaddi, Lille
Following the Moroccan teenager’s eye-catching World Cup display against Brazil, The Times reported that Arsenal have made contact with the player’s representatives.
Lille are said to value the 18-year-old at around £60 million and are under no immediate pressure to sell. Real Madrid, PSG and Chelsea are also credited with an interest, which is usually what happens when a highly rated teenager puts together a few impressive performances on a global stage.
Source: The Times
Poo-o-meter rating: 💩💩💩💩💩💩
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Nico Paz, Como
Since joining Como permanently from Real Madrid in 2024, Nico Paz has established himself as one of Serie A’s most exciting young talents, producing 19 goals and 17 assists under Cesc Fabregas.
Almost every major European club has been linked at some point, although Real Madrid’s buy-back clause remains a significant factor. The latest reports suggest the Argentine will stay put for another season, which feels sensible for everyone involved. We can therefore dismiss this one for another six months.
Source: AS
Poo-o-meter rating: 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩
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Bradley Barcola, PSG
Arsenal know all about Bradley Barcola after facing him in the Champions League in consecutive seasons.
Reports in France suggest the winger is open to exploring his options after being left out of PSG’s starting lineup for the final in Budapest. Liverpool have been heavily linked, while The Athletic reports that Andrea Berta is monitoring developments.
He’s 23, scoring goals at a World Cup and contracted to one of the richest clubs on the planet. You can do the maths on what that means for any potential transfer fee.
Source: The Athletic
Poo-o-meter rating: 💩💩💩💩
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Alex Scott, Bournemouth
The Bournemouth midfielder has looked destined for a bigger move ever since breaking through on the south coast.
BBC Sport report that Bournemouth remain confident of keeping hold of their key players despite interest from elsewhere. That includes Arsenal-linked Eli Junior Kroupi, who has also been mentioned in dispatches.
Scott may share a name with an Arsenal legend, but he is also a dyed-in-the-wool Sp*rs supporter. If that doesn’t immediately put you on guard, we’re not sure what will.
Source: Various (including BBC Sport)
Poo-o-meter rating: 💩💩💩💩💩💩
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Manu Kone, AS Roma
Corriere della Sera, egged on by L’Equipe, have been pushing Arsenal’s alleged interest in Manu Kone so enthusiastically that suspicion feels like the only rational response.
While the story has been endlessly recycled, none of the journalists typically associated with Arsenal’s transfer business appear to be biting. The Roma midfielder is reportedly valued at around €50 million and, conveniently, his club need to generate funds before 30 June.
Personal terms agreed, apparently. We’ve heard that one before.
Source: L’Equipe
Poo-o-meter rating: 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩
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Elijah Upson, Sp*rs
The 18-year-old centre-back, son of former Gunner Matthew Upson, has turned down a professional contract at Sp*rs and is expected to become a free agent later this month.
Arsenal continue to scour the market for elite young talent. With Jeremy Monga also expected to arrive, this would fit neatly into that strategy.
Source: The Athletic
Poo-o-meter rating: 💩💩
OUT
Fabio Vieira – Nottingham Forest
After a productive loan spell at Hamburg, where he registered seven goals and six assists in 31 Bundesliga appearances, it seemed inevitable that the German club would trigger their purchase option. According to Bild, however, the €22 million fee proved too steep.
Since then, a dodgy report from Germany has suggested Nottingham Forest are interested at around €28 million. Curiously, the story cites the Financial Times as a source, which feels a bit like discovering Fabrizio Romano has broken a story about interest rates.
Something about the whole thing doesn’t quite add up, but with only a year left on his contract, it would be a surprise if Vieira is still at Arsenal when the window closes.
Source: Fussball Transfers
Poo-o-meter rating: 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩
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Christian Norgaard – Brondby
Reports in Denmark claim Christian Norgaard could leave Arsenal after a season in which opportunities were limited.
The midfielder has spoken previously about eventually returning to Brondby, although local reports suggest that move may come a little later than some supporters would like.
We’ll file this one under “possible, but not urgent”.
Source: Bold
Poo-o-meter rating: 💩💩💩💩💩
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Riccardo Calafiori – Real Madrid
For a brief moment, Riccardo Calafiori appeared to be attracting interest from Real Madrid. Since then, the Spanish giants have signed Marc Cucurella, which would appear to make any move considerably less likely.
That said, Arsenal continue to be linked with an endless stream of left-backs, despite the imminent permanent signing of Piero Hincapie. Nathaniel Brown, Tino Livramento and Ivan Fresneda have all had their names thrown into the mix.
Whether that says anything about Calafiori’s future or is simply the transfer rumour ecosystem feeding itself remains to be seen.
Source: Various
Poo-o-meter rating: 💩💩💩
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Leandro Trossard – Besiktas, Aston Villa
If Arsenal are serious about refreshing their attacking options, somebody probably has to make way.
That reality inevitably brings Leandro Trossard into the conversation, alongside Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.
The Belgian has previously been linked with Saudi Arabian clubs, and this week reports – most likely completely fabricated – have suggested interest from Besiktas and Aston Villa. With Trossard currently away at the World Cup, any genuine movement is likely some way off. Just to reiterate, not that we’re convinced by the reports in the first place!
Source: Sporx
Poo-o-meter rating: 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩