It is now less than a week until the summer transfer window opens for English sides.
Arsenal can officially start buying and selling players on Friday, June 14 with Edu and Mikel Arteta having up until 11pm on August 30 to build a squad capable of winning the game’s biggest honours.
Many believe it could be a busy period for the Gunners with a number of players expected to depart and arrive. Several first team stars face uncertain futures at Emirates Stadium and it will be fascinating to see which players are granted a move away.
It’s understood that Arsenal are extremely keen to strengthen in the coming months, too, with dozens of world class talent linked with the Gunners. But what will happen between June 14 and August 30? football.london’s Arsenal’s writers have tried to predict Arsenal’s summer transfer window below.
Arsenal will spend money in this window and have ambitions to strengthen many areas of the squad, some through their own ruthless choosing and others by necessity. The latter of which can certainly be attributed to the goalkeeper position with Aaron Ramsdale expected to leave. Mikel Arteta will again need another number two on top of David Raya whose move is expected to be made permanent.
The defence has got the age-old saying of “like a new signing” in the form of Jurrien Timber but should Oleksandr Zinchenko or Jakub Kiwior leave – both have been linked with exits and I think one could go – then Arsenal will need to add a left-sided player to the fold. With Jorrel Hato committing his future to Ajax perhaps this could be the area we see a surprise name pop up who few have mentioned.
Into midfield and this is where the club’s priority addition is, as I understand it, but also where there is a lack of obvious candidates. Should Arsenal have the money through sales, I’d expect them to consider Bruno Guimaraes but other options like Youssouf Fofana are available for much less – a Thomas Partey exit also seems a real possibility.
A centre-forward looks very likely too and I would expect the links to Benjamin Sesko to eventually bear fruit. A young and budding striker whose numbers are very impressive is the perfect addition to the side and upgrades the depth that Mikel Arteta already has.
Mikel Arteta wants to conduct any transfer business in the opening few weeks of the window but Euro 2024 and Copa America may make that tricky. I actually expect the Gunners to be far busier at the end of the window than the beginning.
Firstly, it’s clear a number of players must be moved on. Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Tierney, Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah should be allowed to leave in my opinion. You would expect them to fetch decent fees and this would allow Edu to reinvest the money into the squad.
With exits means incomings. I expect a new goalkeeper, midfielder and at least one forward to be signed this window. The big question is who? Arsenal need a respectable No.2 who can be an able deputy for David Raya, who is expected to make his loan move from Brentford permanent. Koen Casteels, who is a free agent after his contract at Wolfsburg expired, or Josep Martínez, who has one year remaining on his Genoa contract, look ideal. I also like Wolves stopper Jose Sa who has been rumoured with an exit already.
Into midfield and I like the look of Everton’s Amadou Onana, who fits the type of player Arteta likes to work with. Frenkie de Jong may just be out of the Gunners’ reach but the Barcelona man would be my first choice if a deal is there to be done. Martin Zubimendi has also been heavily linked and the Gunners are interested which makes that one to watch.
Lastly, the forward line and I believe Arsenal may actually sign two players in this area. The first a versatile winger who can play in multiple positions across the front three. The second an out and out No.9 – a clinical finisher capable of firing the north Londoners to silverware. At the moment I like Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Tsygankov and Nico Williams but it’s a very fluid market and things could change. I expect some incomings won’t be completed until August, perhaps even deadline day!
Tom Coley
For a team that just finished second and seem to have plenty of the world at their door, Arsenal are going to be busy this summer. The three big transfers of 2023 may well look relatively small fry compared to what they could get up to.
The £200million spend might not be matched, but the activity certainly will be. Arteta and Edu need to clearout and revamp. Having not taken any steps towards really doing this in the past few years a lot of it will come down to what is possible in the coming months.
Expect Nketiah, Ramsdale, and Smith Rowe to leave, Tierney too. It wouldn’t be a surprise, depending on who is out there to come in, if one of Jesus or Zinchenko also made way. Partey could be on his way out as well.
That is a large core to rip out and replace no matter how much money they have to spend. It is also a risky strategy. The players listed – perhaps outside of Tierney – have experience now within a squad that has gone far into two title races and taken the first steps in Europe.
Coming in and a new striker is a priority. All roads point towards Sesko and his arrival would be exciting if nothing less. Bruno Guimaraes in midfield would be ideal but that looks unlikely. Alexander Isak would be even better if possible, but it doesn’t feel close.
Arsenal just need to ensure that they don’t leave themselves too short in back-ups and rotation options. Arteta tends not to turn to those outside his main 14 but losing the players Arsenal could would be a big overhaul to complete in one summer whilst staying at the same high levels.
