Arsenal are set to wrap up a £51million move for Martin Zubimendi, but that's not the end of their summer plans. The Gunners are next keen to secure a contract extension for key defender Gabriel Magalhaes, whose current deal runs until 2027. Zubimendi is believed to have flown in for a medical this week ahead of his high-profile transfer.
Despite last-minute attempts by La Real's management to change the midfielder's mind, he seems ready to reunite with former teammates Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard in north London. This would mark the first major deal under Andrea Berta, who joined as sporting director midway through the season. Meanwhile, behind-the-scenes negotiations with Gabriel are reportedly nearing completion, according to BBC Sport.
The club is pushing to finalise Gabriel's extension swiftly to avoid any potential complications. His fellow centre-back William Saliba's contract also expires in the same summer, and Arsenal are keen to prevent either player from running down his contract.
Saliba has caught the eye of Real Madrid. However, the Spanish giants have already signed Dean Huijsen this summer, and it remains uncertain how this will affect their pursuit of the French international.
Gabriel's absence through injury was keenly felt by Arsenal as they navigated the season end, but hopes are high for his return before the upcoming campaign kicks off.
A hamstring issue ruled him out of crucial Champions League knockout games against giants Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, culminating in PSG ousting the Gunners at the semi-final hurdle.
Suffering from significant injury woes upfront, Arsenal may look to bolster their attack, with Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres named as primary targets. However, Newcastle United's Champions League qualification has ramped up the difficulty in luring Alexander Isak.
Post-match on Sunday, Mikel Arteta said: "We'll have enough time in the next few days to discuss the topics that you are probably suspecting, and we'll do it in the right environment. Today was just about the game.
"In order to achieve that, a lot of things have to happen. The team has to provide, that player has to play a certain amount of minutes and games.
"Believe me, we are on it. We will try to squeeze and think and turn every stone that we possibly can, to make this club even more successful.
"But I think what these boys have done, the team has done, regarding everything that has happened, I repeat myself, I think they deserve a lot of credit."