Arsenal are playing the long game in the summer transfer window so far.
While Premier League title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City have made three signings apiece – City mainly to improve their squad for the Club World Cup in the United States of America – Arsenal are yet to bring in any new faces.
But that should all change very soon.
The Gunners are expected to complete two deals as early as next week, with a £5million move to bring Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea and a £55million deal to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad all done bar the actual confirmations.
With the financial year resetting on July 1, it may well be that Arsenal are waiting to announce their first two signings until then.
But they are not done there. New sporting director Andrea Berta has been tasked with giving Mikel Arteta the added strength in depth he needs to compete for the Premier League title and in the Champions League next season and five players were targeted as a result.
As well as a new goalkeeper and midfielder, Arsenal also wanted to sign a defender, a striker and a winger, football.london understands.
And Berta has already sanctioned another two deals, it seems, with one closer to being completed than the other.
Arsenal are likely to bring in two new midfielders, not just one.
With no breakthrough in talks over a new deal to get Thomas Partey to stay at the club following the expiry of his contract, the Gunners have moved swiftly to reach a deal with Brentford to sign Christian Norgaard for an initial £10million that may rise to £15million with add-ons.
Norgaard had been linked with Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham, given Thomas Frank’s move from Brentford to take over at Spurs, but it looks like Arsenal have won the race to sign him.
Then there is the much-talked about search for a striker. Benjamin Sesko looks to be the chosen one, with Arsenal reportedly willing to shell out around £70million to sign the Slovenian, although there remain rumours around Viktor Gyokeres too, who could cost around the same price.
Three signings look close to completion and it is clear a deal has been sanctioned to sign a striker this summer, which would immediately take Arsenal’s spending to around the £145million mark.
They would still be in the market for a defender, with Villarreal centre-back Cristhian Mosquera most recently linked, and a winger, with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo the dream option. Eberechi Eze has also been linked and were he to join it would be the second time the Gunners have beaten Spurs to a signing.
