While much of the attention in recent weeks has focused on who Arsenal might bring in, most notably Bruno Guimaraes, and the ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful pursuit of Vinicius Junior, Andrea Berta and his recruitment team still have plenty to do when it comes to trimming Mikel Arteta’s squad and balancing the books.
The departures of Jakub Kiwior, Karl Hein, Leandro Trossard and Christian Norgaard have already brought in around £40 million, but there is still scope to generate further funds before the transfer window closes.
At the start of the summer, The Athletic reported Arsenal had placed a £20 million valuation on Gabriel Jesus, a figure that seemed optimistic for a player whose recent seasons have been disrupted by injury and inconsistent form. Until now, interest has been fairly limited, but links have emerged in recent days with Napoli, who are reportedly considering alternatives to Romelu Lukaku should the Belgian move on. Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli are also said to be monitoring the situation.
Jesus’ wages have previously proved a stumbling block for interested clubs and, with just one year remaining on his contract, he may ultimately decide to see it through before becoming a free agent next summer. While he and Viktor Gyokeres are Arsenal’s two recognised centre-forwards, it is probably fair to say the Brazilian now sits behind the Swede, Kai Havertz and even Mikel Merino in Arteta’s attacking pecking order.
Elsewhere, it remains to be seen whether Hamburg’s patience pays off in their long-running pursuit of Fabio Vieira. When the Portuguese midfielder joined the Bundesliga club on loan last season, the agreement included a €20 million option to buy. Once the campaign ended, however, Hamburg admitted that figure was beyond their reach.
Vieira appears surplus to requirements at the Emirates, so the question is whether another club enters the race or Arsenal eventually accept a lower fee to get a deal done.
If Arsenal do decide they need to raise significant funds, Ethan Nwaneri would represent one of the club’s most valuable assets. Despite an underwhelming loan spell at Marseille last season, the England under-21 international remains highly regarded across Europe, with AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig all linked in recent weeks.
Many supporters would understandably be disappointed to see another Hale End graduate depart before fulfilling his potential in north London. One possible compromise, however, would be to include a buyback clause in any permanent transfer, giving Arsenal the opportunity to bring him back should he flourish elsewhere. A loan would arguably make more sense from a footballing perspective, although that may only become viable if the club are able to generate funds elsewhere.
It’s also been a couple of weeks since BBC Sport reported that Reiss Nelson was attracting interest from clubs overseas, including Benfica. Since then, we’ve heard the Portuguese side have cooled their interest. West Ham have also been mentioned, although you wonder whether the winger would relish the prospect of dropping into the rough and tumble of the Championship.
Finally, The Telegraph’s Sam Dean reports that Spanish second-tier side Las Palmas are keen to take Tommy Setford on loan. Arsenal have long viewed a temporary move as the best way to aid the England Under-21 goalkeeper’s development, with regular first-team football the clear priority at this stage of his career.