Mikel Arteta is not letting his foot off the gas in the transfer window despite Arsenal's strong start to the season
Arsenal are working on multiple deals(Image: Getty )
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Arsenal are expected to have a hectic last few days in the transfer window as they complete their final deals of the summer. Sporting director Andrea Berta has worked diligently in the background over the past three months.
His efforts have resulted in the Gunners signing five players - Piero Hincapie, Illan Meslier, Christos Tzolis, Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa - for a combined total of £200million. That expenditure could well rise and surpass last year’s outlay as Berta and manager Mikel Arteta still hope to land Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez for a club record fee of up to £128m.
Several departures are also expected in order to free up squad space and raise funds. Reiss Nelson, Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira are among those listed for sale, while Ethan Nwaneri could go out on loan.
Four deals being worked on
Arsenal are looking to sign four promising talents as they continue their relentless academy recruitment drive. The Gunners have made a notable push to secure some of the most highly-rated youngsters in world football over the past year.
The Athletic reports that Habeeb Ogunneye, a 20-year-old right-back, has now undergone a medical ahead of a move from Manchester United. They are close to sealing a move for 19-year-old Red Devils winger James Scanlon too, with the expectation being that both deals will be free transfers.
Habeeb Ogunneye of Manchester United
Habeeb Ogunneye is leaving Manchester United for Arsenal(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
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They are also close to finalising their lengthy pursuit of Blackburn Rovers’ 18-year-old Igor Tyjon, who has already completed a medical after Arsenal agreed to pay Blackburn an initial £1m plus bonuses for his services.
The report adds that Arsenal have also made a contract offer for 17-year-old midfielder Andria Bartishvili. The highly-rated Georgian is currently on loan with top-flight Georgian side Iberia and has already represented his country at under-21 level.
His deal is set to expire later this year and Arsenal are looking to sign him on a pre-contract agreement. In terms of outgoings, Meslier’s arrival has paved the way for back-up goalkeeper Tommy Setford’s loan exit.
Players pick side in Martinelli saga
Gabriel Martinelli's future at Arsenal is up in the air.
Gabriel Martinelli has been forced out by Arsenal(Image: (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images))
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Some of Gabriel Martinelli’s Arsenal team-mates reportedly felt uncomfortable with the club’s harsh treatment of the player in recent weeks. The Brazilian winger is set to join Al-Hilal for a fee in the region of £50m, which would be a record sale for Arsenal, after being forced out.
Martinelli has seemingly played his last game for the club despite initially wanting to stay put. He was left out of the squads for the Community Shield win over Manchester City and the opening-day thrashing of Coventry, having been frozen out by Arteta in an effort to push him to leave.
He watched from the sidelines as his team-mates celebrated the Community Shield win and didn’t collect a winners’ medal. The manager’s treatment of the 25-year-old, according to ESPN Brazil, was a source of discomfort for some of his team-mates, suggesting they sympathise with his situation.
Martinelli, who joined Arsenal seven years ago, has less than a year left on his deal. His exit is believed to have been orchestrated in an effort to fund a new forward signing.