The summer transfer window has been open for almost a week now, but there has been very little business done. This will mainly come down to it being a big international summer, with Euro 2024 and Copa America already under way now.
For Arsenal the likelihood is that most deals will be done once the tournaments are over, with players involved preferring to focus on what’s happening with their countries rather than sorting out their club futures.
Arsenal are focusing on midfield reinforcements, while a new forward is also high on the list of priorities, particularly after missing out on Benjamin Sesko, who signed a new deal to stay at RB Leipzig. The Gunners will also likely be on the lookout for a goalkeeper, with Aaron Ramsdale tipped to leave the club in search of more game time.
Support for Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba at centre-back will also be looked at as Arsenal try to challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title once more. As well as incoming transfers, there will also be some outgoings too.
So what will the summer transfer window look like for the Gunners? football.london‘s writers look into their crystal balls…
Lee Wilmot
Predicting a transfer window is hugely difficult, but it’s a bit of fun too. In my opinion, Arsenal do not need to do too much business. When you finish second to Manchester City by just two points on the final day of the season, you’re clearly close to having a perfect squad.
What Arsenal do need is reinforcements, stronger back-up players to get them over the line in tighter games, and to get rid of some players Mikel Arteta clearly does not trust.
The first bit of business will be David Raya signing a permanent deal, which will mean Ramsdale needing to depart. Arsenal can get some good money for Thomas Partey in the transfer market, so he should go, to be replaced by the younger Martin Zubimendi.
Others to leave will be Emile Smith Rowe – in search of game time – Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira – who should all bring in good transfer fees. I would not be surprised to see the Gunners move to bring in Jason Steele from Brighton, to offer competition for Raya.
Alexander Isak is just not going to happen. Newcastle do not want to sell and it would take astronomical figures to get a deal over the line. More likely is a younger forward for a cheaper price – how about Sesko’s teammate Lois Openda?
For some much-needed experience at the back and versatility to play in midfield too, why not go for Joshua Kimmich from Bayern Munich too? He’s out of contract in 2025 and still has plenty of time on his side at 29 years of age.
Richard Cusack
Arsenal have refined their methodology in the transfer market so much that there is little uncertainty about where they need to strengthen and no need for wholesale changes.
Given the age profile of the squad, there is only room for improvement and the excitement around the Emirates Stadium is about how good players like Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Ben White can become.
Remarkably, White at 26 is the eldest of those players mentioned, with Arsenal working very hard to turn their squad into one that is laden with talent that is not a ticking time bomb in terms of age.
The elephant in the room is up front, isn’t it?
Arsenal did well to get close to £30million for Folarin Balogun last year and can repeat that trick with Eddie Nketiah this summer with the added bonus that, from a financial fair play perspective, any money generated from a sale of the latter is booked as pure profit given he is an academy product and no transfer fee was amortised on arrival at the club.
Gabriel Jesus, meanwhile, isn’t cutting it and his injury and goal record is of concern. Arsenal need a top-class centre-forward who can fire them to first place in the Premier League and the latter stages of the Champions League but they are expensive and Mikel Arteta’s side do not have time for lengthy ‘project’ strikers.
Lautaro Martinez or Victor Osimhen are the closest you are going to get to marquee strikers, but they might end up costing north of £100million.
Arsenal were not shy in front of goal and only scored five less than City last season, with over five players hitting double figures, but you get the feeling a striker really is the one they ought to be looking at this summer.
Joe Doyle
I think there will be a few movements taking place, both in and out of the club. The first one is the most obvious: a permanent deal for David Raya. I’d expect that to happen around the start of July, given that the Gunners made it a loan deal first so that it would count on next year’s finances, with the finishing date on 30 June.
In terms of new players coming in, I’d expect to see an attacker and a midfielder, particularly if Thomas Partey does leave following a lot of speculation across the second half of the season over his future. There’s been talk of Martin Zubimendi, Youssouf Fofana and plenty of other candidates. I think if they can get a decent price then Fofana would be the one coming in.
I don’t think there’s going to be a huge signing arriving up front, despite links to Alexander Isak, Victor Osimhen and previously Benjamin Sesko. Instead, I think we’ll see a more positionally flexible option. Maybe Pedro Neto if they can get a good price – perhaps Santiago Gimenez would be worth a punt.
In defence there are some interesting options – Jorrel Hato has been linked but could be costly. So instead I think a move for Joshua Kimmich would add a great blend of talent and experience, and with just a year left on his deal he shouldn’t cost too much.
I think Aaron Ramsdale, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson will be the most notable departures. All are good squad players, but will want far more time on the pitch after last season, and it’s clear that won’t happen at Arsenal.
