Arsenal are currently attempting to get a host of players off Mikel Arteta's books, and they must do so quickly if Andrea Berta is to win the race for Eberechi Eze before Tottenham.
The consensus right now is that the Gunners' current focus is on selling players (Sky Sports), with previous reports suggesting that they may have to offload certain squad members before formally bidding for Eze, despite the player's recent talks with Berta and Arteta (Ben Jacobs).
Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze reacts
Arsenal have long been in discussions with the 27-year-old's camp (Fabrizio Romano), and there are some suggestions that the north Londoners even hold a broad agreement on financial terms with Palace.
However, their hesitancy and need to sell has gifted arch rivals Tottenham an opportunity to hijack their deal - with Thomas Frank's side opening talks this week.
If Arsenal are to trim the squad and make room for Eze, it is absolutely imperative that they're fast about it.
Fabio Vieira, Karl Hein, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Reiss Nelson, Jakub Kiwior are all being linked with exits before the transfer deadline on September 1, as is left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The former Man City star is considering the possibility of seeing out his contract and leaving for free in 2026, but given Arsenal's need to raise funds and make room in the squad, Arteta's side obviously prefer to sell now (The Athletic).
Zinchenko-Mbeumo-Arsenal
Zinchenko is on a considerable salary of around £150,000-per-week at the Emirates Stadium right now and barely got a look in under Arteta last season, so Arsenal will understandably be keen to find a buyer.
The Ukraine international attracted interest from AC Milan earlier this summer, according to reports from Italy, but now Turkish Süper Lig giants Fenerbache are throwing their hat into the ring.
Oleksandr Zinchenko keen to join Fenerbahce after Jose Mourinho talks
According to Turkish news outlet Sabah, Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho has held a meeting with Zinchenko and discussed his plans for the defender - promising to use him in midfield as opposed to at full-back.
Zinchenko-Arsenal-Ross-Stewart
These talks have piqued Zinchenko's interest, as the ex-Ufa sensation is now believed to be keen on a switch to the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium.
While Mourinho has acquired the player buy-in, there is still work to do on the club-to-club front. Arsenal value Zinchenko at £17 million, but Fenerbache only want to sign him on loan with an option to buy in 2026.
So far, Fenerbache director Devin Ozek has offered Berta a loan fee of £2.5m, with an option to buy set at around £8.6 million, so a significant gap in valuation remains before a deal can be struck.
Arteta brought Zinchenko to Arsenal in 2022 after previously working with him at Eastlands, and the tactician praised his exceptional mentality.
"He’s a perfectionist and a really demanding boy. I know him so well, and after that he brings qualities that we didn’t have in the squad," said Arteta to the press.
"He gives us a different option to play within the role in different spaces, and I’m really happy to have him."