With the first mini summer transfer window open, Arsenal are able to add to their squad as they prepare for the 2025/26 season. It is expected to be a busy one for Mikel Arteta and his backroom staff as they look to strengthen.
The first piece of the puzzle looks to be falling in place. football.london understands that Arsenal are confident that they will secure the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
The 26-year-old has a €60 million (£52.5m) release clause in his contract with the Spanish club. Arsenal look to have beaten off competition from Liverpool for the player, with the Reds seriously interested in the player this time last year.
Once the deal to secure Zubimendi has been done, Arsenal are said to be looking at four more areas to improve between now and the September 1 deadline.
As previously reported by football.london and relayed by Sky Sports, one of the priorities is signing a top striker. The two players to be heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium are Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and Red Bull Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
Arsenal are reported to have opened talks with Leipzig over a potential move for Sesko this summer, with the striker expected to cost around £70m. However, the links with Gyokeres still remain, with the club long-term admirers of the Sweden international.
As well as a striker, Arsenal are also on the lookout for a new winger in the window. Nico Williams is a name who continues to be linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium and the Athletic Club star has a release clause of around £50 million.
Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane is also mentioned as a potential option, but that will depend on his decision over a new contract with the German giants. The former Manchester City forward is currently out of contract with the club, but is in negotiations over a new deal.
At the other end of the pitch, the report says that Arsenal are expected to search for a backup to goalkeeper David Raya. The club were linked with an interest in Espanyol’s Joan Garcia, but he looks to be heading towards Barcelona.
There is also a suggestion that the Gunners will be looking to strengthen the full-back areas by bringing in more cover. At the start of the new season, Arteta will have Myles Lewis-Skelly, Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko as left-back options.
Kieran Tierney will be moving back to former club Celtic at the end of his contract next month, while there is uncertainty over the future of Zinchenko.
At right-back Arsenal currently have Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu as options. However, the latter is expected to be out until the end of the year after undergoing surgery on his knee.