With the summer transfer window well underway, the VAVEL Arsenal Transfer Roundup is back as the writers from the Arsenal office look to provide the latest updates on the incomings and outgoings from the club.
The Premier League champions have been linked to several options to strengthen their team as they look to secure back-to-back titles and go one step further in the UEFA Champions League.
With two confirmed senior signings already, who else is linked with joining the Gunners?
Bruno Guimarães
One that feels certain to happen, or one that may end in disappointment again for Arsenal.
It was an exclusive from the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope on June 25th which began this saga, saying that Newcastle were braced for an approach from Premier League champions Arsenal for the Magpies captain, Bruno Guimarães.
The Brazilian does currently have two years left on his Newcastle contract, with an option for an extra year until 2029.
On the 8th July, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that Guimarães had informed Newcastle of his wish to leave Tyneside and head to North London, and that Arsenal were ready to step up their pursuit.
However, since then, it’s all been a bit confusing, with Newcastle sources adamant that he was not for sale, and no club-to-club contact had been made. This week should be decisive, with Guimarães due to be in pre-season training in Spain with Newcastle following his World Cup adventures.
BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel reported that Arsenal were to make a £70 million offer, but it appears that has been rejected.
One thing is for sure: Mikel Arteta is pushing to sign Guimarães, and wants him desperately to bolster his title-winning squad. So are the Gunners willing to go a bit over value to get their man, or will Newcastle hold on to their captain?
Words by Theo Tarling
Julian Alvarez
DeFodi Images/ GettyImages
Credit: DeFodi Images/ GettyImages
Arsenal are reportedly exploring the possibility of a striker swap to upgrade their attack.
The London Evening Standard is one of several sources to suggest that the Gunners are interested in signing Julian Alvarez, who could be pried away from Atletico Madrid after two years at the club.
The Argentina international insisted his ideal destination would be Barcelona, but the Rojiblancos are resistant to sell a star asset to a direct LaLiga rival. Real Madrid also announced the rejection of a £130 million bid for the attacker, whose best bet of an exit might be a return to the Premier League.
If he were to come to the Emirates Stadium, news indicates that Arsenal must stump up a sum of £51.7 million in addition to the movement of Viktor Gyokeres in the other direction to Madrid.
The Swedish striker is not universally seen as superior to Kai Havertz, but his improved form in the new year helped the Gunners get the Premier League title. Should Alvarez be open to going back to England, time will tell how much faith the champions have in their signing from the previous summer.
Words by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere
John Stones
ADRIAN DENNIS/ GettyImages
Credit: ADRIAN DENNIS/ GettyImages
With William Saliba set for a considerable spell on the sidelines through injury, Arsenal are rumoured to be in the market for a new central defender. One name who had been linked with the North London club is John Stones, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The former Manchester City player is currently a free agent after being let go by the Citizens at the end of last season. Stones spent a decade in Manchester and was one of Pep Guardiola’s first signings during the club’s most successful era.
The 32-year-old would offer Mikel Arteta’s side experience, versatility and quality at the back, but this doesn’t come without risk. Stones has become rather injury-prone in the last few seasons and only featured in 38 games for his former club in the last two campaigns.
Still, a solid World Cup for England showcased his well-known ability on the global stage and signing Stones while Saliba recovers would prevent rushing the Frenchman back into action.
According to Romano, Arsenal look set to miss out on the defender as Inter Milan close in on the free agent.
Words by Harry Cooper-Smith
Ezri Konsa
Eddie Keogh - The FA/ GettyImages
Credit: Eddie Keogh - The FA/ GettyImages
Ezri Konsa is an interesting one; Arsenal need a defender in order to cover for William Saliba, who will be missing for a while with a back injury.
The Aston Villa defender currently has two years remaining on his contract. Still, there is a significant valuation gap, with Arsenal valuing him at around £35 million. In comparison, Villa’s valuation is closer to £60 million according to the Daily Mail, which is a price that the Gunners were not keen on meeting, according to Gary Jacobs.
What Konsa brings that Arteta will love is versatility; the England international can play in the centre of defence and also at right back.
His passing stats are also unbelievable, having completed 2003 passes last season, with an accuracy of 95.5%, which was the highest of any Villa player in the Premier League last season.
Overall, it’s one to watch heading into the final month of the window, though it will only seemingly materialise if Arsenal believe that Villa’s valuation is good value.
Words by Theo Tarling
Christian Nørgaard
David Price/ GettyImages
Credit: David Price/ GettyImages
Christian Nørgaard was viewed as a good depth option for Arteta’s squad when he was signed for £15 million last summer, but he never really got the opportunity to play a significant amount of minutes, with just 20 appearances overall, and seven in the Premier League, which was enough to qualify him for a Premier League medal.
With Myles Lewis-Skelly’s emergence as a midfielder, and the Gunners looking at bringing another one in, it is unlikely that Nørgaard’s minutes will improve heading into 26/27.
According to Ben Jacobs, there is interest in the Dane from both Saudi Arabia and Italy, and that Ipswich had previously looked at signing him, but were not working on any sort of deal for a move.
Any fee for Nørgaard is likely to be minimal, with Arsenal at most recouping close to what they paid a year prior. Sales will be critical for the Gunners heading into the final weeks of the window.
Words by Theo Tarling