Mikel Arteta and Edu have sanctioned an Arsenal summer transfer as the search for new signings goes on. David Raya was confirmed as the club’s first permanent signing earlier this month, with negotiations for Riccardo Calafiori of Bologna and Wolves goalkeeper Dan Bentley ongoing.
The Gunners have already reached an agreement on personal terms for Calafiori with discussions now centred around the final fee that will be sent to Bologna. Alongside that, Arsenal saw their opening offer for Bentley rejected by Wolves on Tuesday, as per the Athletic.
With his valuation said to be in the region of £1million, Arsenal will have to significantly increase their next proposal after seeing a £50k bid turned down. Signing the 31-year-old appears a surprising decision, however Arteta seems to be trying to copy Manchester United’s success with Tom Heaton as their third-choice goalkeeper.
Sanctioning exits will also be a major priority for Arteta and Edu this summer with Albert Sambi Lokonga’s move to Sevilla looking set to be the first senior departure. Eddie Nketiah, Aaron Ramsdale and Thomas Partey are others who could move on, but it looks as though Nuno Tavares will be the next exit.
In a post to X, formerly Twitter, journalist Fabrizio Romano wrote: “Arsenal have accepted Lazio final proposal to sign Nuno Tavares on loan with obligation to buy, fee around €7/8m. Arsenal will also have sell-on clause. Negotiations are ongoing with Tavares agents on personal terms.”
With his contract expiring in the summer of 2025, Arsenal look set to bank at least £5million. Tavares joined the Gunners back in 2021 for £8million, and given his struggles at the Emirates Stadium in the years since, Edu will no doubt be happy to recoup much of that fee.
Arsenal could secure even more funds from Tavares with a sell-on clause inserted into his new contract in Italy. As proven by Omari Hutchinson’s permanent £22million move from Chelsea to Ipswich, which banked the Gunners in the region of £4million, including clauses such as that is extremely valuable to securing regular windfalls
