All the latest Arsenal transfer updates as we understand it with Julian Alvarez and Bruno Guimaraes the headline stories
10:46, 13 Jul 2026Updated 10:58, 13 Jul 2026
Julian Alvarez and Bruno Guimaraes remain players Arsenal hold a keen interest in this summer
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Julian Alvarez and Bruno Guimaraes remain players Arsenal hold a keen interest in this summer(Image: MB Media/Getty Images)
It has been a big week for Arsenal despite the fact that fans remain on the edge of their seats for the major moves of the summer. The first new signing, after Piero Hincapie, was confirmed: Illan Meslier.
football.london understands the Frenchman has signed a two-year deal with an option for a third. Despite Kepa Arrizabalaga having links of a summer exit, the French keeper is still expected to be a number three keeper, allowing Tommy Setford to leave for a senior loan.
Setford, despite his limited game time, is very highly thought of at Arsenal. The club believed they had secured one of Europe’s most exciting young keepers when they acquired him from Ajax, and that eagerness to develop the player has not diminished.
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The club did indeed miss out on Jeremy Monga to the frustration of many supporters. Manchester City agreed a £12.5million deal to sign the player, which is understood to have gone way above what the Gunners were willing to pay.
This sparked plenty of backlash, but football.london understands that success is expected to come in the form of another young star. 18-year-old Elijah Upson is believed to have chosen Arsenal as his next destination, as his contract with Tottenham Hotspur expired.
There is also good news with Emerson Nwaneri expected now to remain with the club despite fears he would leave. This could yet have further ramifications with his brother, Ethan Nwaneri, whose future remains up in the air.
football.london understands Arsenal will take offers seriously for the 18-year-old talent, but still have huge appreciation for the youngster’s talent. It will take a considerable bid to convince the North London side to part ways with him, and he is expected to report in for pre-season, where it is hoped his career can get back on track.
The World Cup continues to have a massive bearing on Arsenal’s summer plans. While there has been some scrutiny over the club’s perceived pace in their summer strategy, the reality is the club are extremely busy behind the scenes.
As football.london reported at the start of last week, the case of Bruno Guimaraes was expected to accelerate after Brazil’s exit from the tournament at the hands of Norway. In the aftermath, it is understood that the midfielder has expressed his desire to leave Newcastle United and join Arsenal.
The Magpies are enduring a very difficult summer after losing both Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali. They’ve also been thwarted in their attempts to make signings, with moves for Victor Munoz and Johan Manzambi both collapsing despite reaching an advanced stage.
The position on Guimaraes remains steadfast; he is not for sale. However, there is a growing understanding that Newcastle are going to struggle to keep the player in the northeast and Arsenal remain firm in their interest and hope of finding an agreement north of £65million.
On the left, Leandro Trossard is now expected to complete a £17million move to Besiktas after Belgium exited the World Cup. football.london understands that Christos Tzolis remains a key target, and Trossard’s confirmed departure is expected to see similar progression in this case too.
Both Morgan Rogers and Bradley Barcola remain big targets, but their continued involvement in the summer tournament is expected to remain an obstacle to any potential transfer move.
Arsenal are being precise, strategic and mature this summer. And while others may want them to jump in and get involved, as Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur have done, both clubs’ moves have created a response from selling clubs.
football.london understands that while Arsenal are willing to spend big and expect to spend big, they will not abandon their valuation, as other clubs have, which could extend some moves into longer sagas than many would like. But as usual, the sounds coming from within the walls are, again… Judge the window when it closes.
One player, however, who looks increasingly likely to stay at Arsenal is Martin Odegaard. There had been some suggestions that the player might leave, and some reports even claimed the skipper had agreed terms with Galatasaray.
However, football.london has been able to dispel these as falsehoods. Sources close to the player affirmed the club captain remains both happy at Arsenal and keen to stay – there is also hope that talks over an extension could begin in the near future.
Lastly is Julian Alvarez. Links with the player had gone quiet of late, but not because of a lack of interest; football.london understands that the Argentine remains a massive target of Mikel Arteta’s.
The World Cup again has stalled the chances of meaningful progression, especially when it is predominantly the player Arsenal would have to convince, with Barcelona, the 26-year-old’s dream move. But Atletico Madrid remain firm that they do not want to sell to a La Liga rival.
Atletico too also need convincing of coming down on their financial demands. Real Madrid have already seen a massive bid knocked back, but again, Arsenal’s advantage remains being a Premier League side. This could prove to be one of the shock sagas of the summer.
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