SETTABLOID

Arsenal have been a dominant force in the Premier League for the past two seasons and Mikel Arteta will want to ensure that continues going into the 2024/25 campaign.

One way of ensuring constant improvement is dipping into the transfer market. “We analyse our weaknesses, where we can improve, where we can invest and then we go in search of that new name,” Arsenal’s sporting director Edu told Brazilian publication Estadao last month.

“What I am going to do now, we have been discussing since January. It’s not my decision or Mikel’s alone. It belongs to a whole group.”

football.london understands that the north Londoners are keen to strengthen in the summer, with both the midfield and forward line areas being looked at. It’s understood that a central midfielder is the priority, however, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Martin Zubimendi and Douglas Luiz all linked with a move to Emirates Stadium.

Another player Mikel Arteta and Edu are interested in is Amadou Onana. According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, via GiveMeSport, the Gunners have contacted Everton to discuss a deal for the 22-year-old.

The Toffees’ No.8 featured 37 times for Sean Syche’s side last season and although his main quality is breaking up play and driving forward with the ball, he still contributed with three goals and one assist. He could be the ideal player at Arsenal next season, playing alongside Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.

Onana is part of Belgium’s Euro 2024 squad and the midfielder is keen to showcase his qualities on the world stage. Speaking to Het Laatste Nieuws, Onana said: “At previous tournaments you have seen that the players who did well make the step up to the top clubs. That’s something I strive for.

“I feel like presenting myself to the European top and showing what I have to offer. This European Championship is a stage.”

Interestingly, Onana had the opportunity to leave Everton in January but rejected the chance to do so. “We could have left this winter,” said Melissa Onana, Onana’s agent.

“But we once again sat down and asked the question whether it’s the right time, if the player is ready. My job is to put opportunities on the table. In the end, he’s the one who makes the choice because it’s his life and his career. I put the opportunities on the table and he said ‘No, I want to stay at Everton and I want to continue to fight’.”

It remains to be seen if Onana will leave Everton this summer. The midfielder is valued at £42.5million according to Transfermarkt but Everton chiefs are likely to ask for a figure much higher than that.

Martin Odegaard has been named as Arsenal’s player of the season for the second year running having picked up the award in a second successive title challenge campaign. The Norwegian international and club captain scored eleven goals and recorded eleven assists across all competitions in a total of 48 games which matched his 22 goal contributions from last season.

Finishing above William Saliba and Declan Rice, Odegaard led the side with dominant performances and built on the success of the previous campaign. Even though he picked up the accolade last season, he was able to improve on key areas which were scrutinised as the title challenge stumbled with several games to go as opposed to helping the side take it to the final day this time around.

He stepped up with top performances in big games against the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham and Liverpool. His partnership with Bukayo Saka grew stronger and when Kai Havertz moved into the centre-forward role the pair blossomed in their own combinations.

The success of Odegaard however brings with it questions and ones which both manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu need to answer. Odegaard missed the trip to Newcastle United due to a combination of both a concussion and a hip injury, a game which the Gunners lost painfully and controversially to the Magpies.

To the relief of the side, this was the only small spell out of the team and Arsenal managed wins over Sheffield United and Burnley without him. However, the three points dropped in the northeast were ultimately the difference between winning and losing the title as they finished just two points behind Man City.

Arsenal have two options in reserve for Odegaard’s absence in the form of Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira. However, at Newcastle Smith Rowe was injured and Kai Havertz was instead preferred for the attacking midfield slot over Vieira who came on later as an ineffective substitute.

If Arteta no longer sees either of these two as viable replacements for Odegaard then the market must be the solution. There is of course potential from within the club but the 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri remains a risk when giving him the ladder to step into the senior side.

That said, many believe he is indeed ready to make that step having conquered the under-21s level and impressed with England’s under-17s this summer too. Yet it remains a lot of faith to be put into a teenager and the market does remain an option should Arsenal aim to explore potential alternatives.

To come full circle, however, Odegaard’s appreciation by supporters should not be understated considering he joined the club on an initial six-month loan deal and did not win over the vast majority of fans in that time. However Arteta and the club were convinced and in one of the best £32million sums the club has ever spent, they have locked in a now-world-class player for the foreseeable future.

Jose Mourinho will be eager to put his twist on the Fenerbahce squad this summer. The former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager recently penned a two-year deal with the Turkish giants following his departure from AS Roma in January.

On Sunday, he was unveiled as the new Fenerbahce boss in front of thousands of euphoric fans. Speaking at a press conference at the club’s training ground in Istanbul, Mourinho vowed to bring eyes to the Turkish game.

“One of the things is, I bring attention in with me,” said the 61-year-old. “More people in Europe will follow the Turkish league. I’m coming to work for Turkish football, for Turkish Super Lig. But fundamentally I come for Fenerbahce.”

Mourinho added: “My wish is that Turkish football improves at every level. But if I have to raise my voice to defend Fenerbahce I will not think twice.”

With the Portuguese tactician expected to give the the Turkish top flight a new lease of life, suddenly a move to Fenerbahce becomes far more attractive – especially for those who are determined to reinvigorate their careers.

As it happens, there are numerous players at Arsenal who have struggled to force themselves into Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup. So, with that being said, football.london have looked at potential players Mourinho could lure from Arsenal, with all proceeds set to fund a potential bid for Benjamin Sesko.

Emile Smith Rowe – £12.7m

Smith Rowe currently faces an uncertain future at the Emirates Stadium after a difficult campaign. The 23-year-old midfielder, who sees his contract expire in 2026, only featured 19 times for the Gunners, where he averaged just 25 minutes an appearance.

According to The Athletic, Arsenal ‘may accept the time is right to sell’ Smith Rowe this summer. The report states higher-ups sat down with the player’s representatives to discuss his future this time last year, communicating that he wasn’t for sale.

The Athletic add that Mikel Arteta recognises his ability to be a ‘match-winner’, but the club may decide to cash in on the playmaker. He enjoyed an impressive campaign in 2021/22, earning himself a new contract, but he’s since struggled with injuries.

Fabio Vieira – £8.5m

Vieira has also struggled recently. The 24-year-old midfielder missed a large chunk of the season after suffering a nasty groin injury while serving a three-match ban.

While he wasn’t necessarily a starter beforehand anyway, Vieira couldn’t force himself into Arteta’s side upon his return in February, featuring just three times off the bench in the Premier League in 2024.

Oleksandr Zinchenko – £25.5m

Zinchenko faces an uncertain future at Arsenal after falling after of favour under Arteta. In the first half of the Premier League campaign, the 29-year-old defender appeared in all but one of the Gunners’ games, missing the opening weekend due to injury.

After suffering a calf issue during the festive period, Zinchenko couldn’t quite win back his place in the startling lineup. He sees his contract at the Emirates Stadium expire in June 2026 and there are questions marks over his place in the side.

Aaron Ramsdale – £25.5m

Ramsdale has been heavily linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium ever since he lost his place between the sticks to David Raya. The Spaniard has quite clearly established himself as Arteta’s new first-choice shot-stopper, which comes as a harsh blow after helping Arsenal finish second in 2022/23.

With that being said, Arsenal could, in theory, raise as much as £72.2m in player sales thanks to Mourinho. Of course, for now, it remains to be seen whether or not the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss will cast his eye over London Colney, but he’ll certainly want to bolster his new squad this summer.

Arsenal are reportedly looking to snare Everton ace Amadou Onana this summer and, according to GMS sources, there is a growing feeling that the 12-cap Belgium international could be captured on a ‘good value’ deal before the summer transfer window slams shut in September.

Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice and two of the first names on Mikel Arteta’s team sheet heading into next season, one in which they’ll be looking to close the gap on Manchester City. Who will complete the club’s midfield trio, however, is still up for discussion, with the likes of Thomas Partey and Kai Havertz among those used in 2023/24.

Onana Could be Captured for ‘Good Value’ This Summer

While using the likes of Havertz and Partey in the engine room is not a problem for Arteta and Co, the north London-based club’s brass will be wanting to reinforce them in that very area, especially with the Ghana international reportedly ‘set to lead’ this summer’s Arsenal exodus.

In the lead up to the summer trading period slamming open, there is an emerging feeling that Onana – one of Everton’s starring men in the season just gone – could be attainable this summer and for ‘good value’, too. Fabrizio Romano, exclusively telling GIVEMESPORT, has revealed that Arsenal have ‘made contact’ with Onana.

In terms of Everton, selling Onana would not be ideal given the influence he’s had since joining for £33 million from Lille in the summer of 2022. That said, GMS sources have confirmed that Jordan Pickford and Jarrad Branthwaite are more important to Sean Dyche than Onana is.

Alongside Onana, Chelsea-linked Dominic Calvert-Lewin is among those who Everton wouldn’t mind offloading over the summer months, depending on how the Englishman’s situation opens up in the summer window.

According to GMS sources, representatives who are working on the man in question’s behalf have already reached out to Arsenal – as well as Manchester United, who are interested in the midfielder’s services – to learn about their transfer plans ahead of an all-important summer transfer window.

Onana Courted by Host of European Clubs

Arsenal aside, Onana is – unsurprisingly – on many clubs’ midfield shortlists this summer. Since joining the Goodison Park outfit, the 22-year-old has weighed in with just four goals and three assists, with the best part of his work coming from an intangible perspective.

Especially with Everton in need of cashing in on a key asset this summer, there are no shortage of suitors for the Hoffenheim academy graduate, with Bayern Munich being contacted by his representatives about the race for the gangly midfielder’s signature.

Combative, astute at breaking up play, all while boasting an eye for a pass, Onana would prove to be a brilliant coup for all interested parties – and there’s no doubt that he is ready for Champions League action, something that both Arsenal and Bayern Munich can provide next term.

The engine room operator is set to represent his nation at Euro 2024 this summer with Domenico Tedesco looking to guide Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’ to their first-ever glory at the European Championships.

If the Everton ace, who earns £100,000-per-week on the blue side of Merseyside, per Capology, is to have a standout campaign in Germany this summer, his group of would-be buyers could increase tenfold. His fee, according to GMS sources, could also inflate on the back of a brilliant tournament.