Arsenal will hope to strengthen multiple areas of their squad this summer as Mikel Arteta finally looks to conquer the Manchester City juggernaut.
Having finished second fiddle two years on the bounce, Arsenal will be searching for that missing piece of the puzzle who could finally tip the Premier League’s scales in their favour.
Having made Brentford goalkeeper David Raya their first signing of the summer, albeit after the Spaniard spent last year on loan at the Emirates, it is clear that business has only just begun.
A goal-scoring forward is top of the north London club’s wish list, as well as a skilful winger and one of Euro 2024’s standout defenders.
Riccardo Calafiori
Catching the eye with Italy at Euro 2024, Bologna’s Calafiori looks set to provide Arteta with another option at centre-half as he is on course to join the Gunners this summer.
The 22-year-old had been linked to both Chelsea and Liverpool, but Arsenal have most likely won the race after it was made apparent that an offer for the defender had been accepted.
The price will be a hefty £42million as local media reports that Bologna will ‘say yes’ to Arsenal’s proposal and allow Calafiori to depart for north London.
Once trailblazing boss Thiago Motta left for Juventus, the Bologna exodus was always on the cards, and it is rumoured that Joshua Zirkzee and Swiss ace Dan Ndoye, who have been linked with a move to Manchester United,d, may also be on the way out.
Bologna qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 1964 on the back of their fifth-placed Serie A finish last season, and a plethora of players impressed their way into being linked with a big move.
Calafiori had already been attracting interest before his Euros run, and former Serie A chief Walter Sabatini believes that he will be a great loss to the league.
Sabatini told Radio Sportiva: “It’s a disaster when strong, young players like him leave our league. €45 million as a valuation is a huge sum, but the defenders are paid even more. I think it’s the minimum for someone like him: left-footed, physically imposing, authoritative and with personality in the game.
“Let’s remember what he did in the 96th minute against Croatia: he came out with the ball at his feet, ran forty meters, took on the defence and passed the ball. These are plays you only do if you have quality and courage, and the courage to take risks and to execute the action is something only great players can do.”
The Italian could shake up the squad as he looks all but certain to battle it out with William Saliba and Gabriel next season for one of Arsenal’s centre-back spots.
Nico Williams
Much like Calafiori, Williams has played his way into transfer rumours with scintillating displays for Spain at Euro 2024 in Germany.
Contracted to Athletic Club, where he plays with his brother Inaki, the winger has seemingly been linked to almost every top Premier League club this window.
Improving Arsenal’s forward line is a priority this summer, so it would make sense that a winger the likes of Williams would be of great interest.
A £46.5million release clause is currently present in the 21-year-old’s contract – a relatively decent fee for a young winger who has set the international stage alight this summer.
Speaking to AS, the youngster commented on transfer speculations, stating: “I prefer to focus on one thing and go for it because if one thing or another comes to me, in the end, my head doesn’t work very well. My agent, my parents and my family know me perfectly, and they know that I don’t want to hear anything until the Euros are over.
“Of course, I am excited. But I am focused on the Euros. Next year, nobody knows what will happen. Whatever has to happen, will come.
“I’ve taken advantage of the opportunity I had, to fulfil another dream, to make myself known. To be able to be or try to be one of the best players in my position.
“That’s what I try to do every day and what I have to do is continue along this path. It’s going well for me and I have to continue like that.”
A deal would have to wait until after the Euros, but Arsenal will definitely be in the scramble for this player’s signature once Spain’s campaign concludes.
Victor Osimhen
Napoli’s superstar striker looks set to depart this summer after the club failed to qualify for the Champions League just a year after winning Serie A.
There is seldom a club in Europe’s top leagues that wouldn’t poach the marksman given the chance, with Chelsea and Barcelona in for him. Arsenal’s name can be added to that list as, reportedly, they have a concrete desire to recruit the Nigerian.
Leaving Lille for Napoli in 2020, Osimhen had a lot to prove to repay the club-record €70million fee that was spent on him.
Injuries blighted his first few years, but the 2022/23 title-winning season put his name firmly on the list of world-class strikers plying their trade in Europe. He became the first African to win the Serie A Golden Boot with 26 goals and was rewarded with a new three-year deal last December.
Napoli’s 2023/24 season was far from ideal, however. They finished 10th and failed to qualify for any European competition, meaning that plenty of their top talent was tipped to move on. Osimhen also became frustrated with the club during this period.
Arsenal’s missing puzzle piece could be that sharp number nine, and it is a position they’ve been desperate to fill for the last few seasons.
Both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, despite their decent performances, haven’t been able to bridge the gap between Arsenal and league winners City.
If Osimhen were to arrive he could turn that tide, and Arsenal will know this as they look to battle it out for his £120million signature this summer – should they be willing to pay the price.
Joan Garcia
Perhaps not the most exciting signing, Espanyol goalkeeper Garcia’s potential move to the Emirates is headline-grabbing in the fact that it would all but assure the departure of Aaron Ramsdale.
The 23-year-old Spanish shot-stopper joined his current club in 2016 but only broke through into the first team this season, where he helped Espanyol achieve promotion through the play-offs.
Reportedly having a £21.2million release clause, The Athletic has reported that should should Garcia be signed, Ramsdale would certainly depart. The Englishman would also be allowed to leave and Garcia signed as a replacement afterwards.
Garcia recently commented on any rumours, saying: “I have always felt the love of the fans, and I’m very happy that people are with me. For that part (transfers), don’t worry, I’m very good here and above all, I would ask you to be calm and encourage us.”
The player will be part of Spain’s Olympic squad for Paris 2024, so if an agreement isn’t made imminently, then the deal may have to be put on ice until the tournament finishes on August 11th.
If Arsenal were to recruit Garcia, he would become the second Spanish keeper they’d have signed this summer, after Raya’s £27million Brentford move was finalised.
Iñaki Caña Pavón, Arsenal’s head of goalkeeping, was a huge part of Raya’s decision to switch London clubs, and with a Spanish manager, goalkeeper coach, and set of shot-stoppers, Arteta could be looking to assemble a tight-knit room.
Victor Gyokeres
Having experienced what it takes to score in English football, Gyokeres is another striker who could help Arsenal’s leading line dine on Premier League defences.
Joining Brighton in 2018, a series of loans culminated in a sale to Coventry three years later where Gyokeres made a name for himself.
Leading the Sky Blues to the Championship play-off final in 2023, the Swede tempted Sporting CP to part with a club-record €20million fee to secure his services.
That fee was duly repaid as Sporting won the league last year thanks to Gyokeres’ 41 goals in all competitions, and it is reported that Arteta is keen on bringing the striker to the Emirates.
He is another Arsenal target with a release clause, this one being a sizable £85million, but that is the price that it seems the Gunners will have to pay should they wish to recruit a marksman.
The striker has admitted to local media that he is unsure what his future holds, stating: “It’s football, I can’t promise anything, I have a contract and I won’t be sad if I stay, I’m very happy, but we’ll see what happens. We can’t predict much, but let’s see what next year will be like, we still have games this season.”
Arsenal will have to part with a large sum of money if they are to sign a top-class striker this window but they may see it as the price they must pay to potentially overcome Pep Guardiola’s unflappable City side.
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