Arsenal have been extremely active during July following a quiet start to the summer transfer window. While Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United all made some big signings, the Gunners made no announcements but work behind the scenes was still certainly being done.
Updates in June on Rodrygo, Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko and Martin Zubimendi showed that Andrea Berta was putting feelers out with pursuits for several deals activated when the new financial year started on Tuesday, July 1.
Kepa Arrizabalaga and Zubimendi have since been confirmed as new Arsenal players, while major Gyokeres, Sesko and Eberechi Eze decisions have been made. The latter has a £68million release clause in his Crystal Palace contract but it is said Arsenal would prefer to pay below that while the Eagles are also open to it being met via instalments.
Gyokeres is now back to being Arsenal’s favoured striker choice after concrete talks with RB Leipzig for Sesko, that started one month ago, stalled. Berta was initially leaning towards Gyokeres upon his arrival back in March and thus maintained contact, with the Swede prioritising a move to the Emirates Stadium over Man Utd and Juventus.
Advanced discussions have been ongoing with Sporting over a transfer fee since last Sunday and Gyokeres has also agreed personal terms which has seen him sacrifice €2m (£1.7m) from his wages in an attempt to make their negotiations easier.
Though the deal is not fully complete, all parties appear hopeful a swift resolution will arrive preferably before Friday with that being when Sporting players are scheduled to return for pre-season.
Assuming a breakthrough is found, focus will very quickly turn onto other attackers with Eze, Rodrygo and Noni Madueke seemingly the top three targets. The Chelsea star is the only one of the trio to have agreed on personal terms with a direct approach expected soon.
Following updates on other Premier League wingers potentially on the move, Arsenal will likely have to pay at least £50million to sign him.
Though he is much better off the right, which is Bukayo Saka’s position, Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas is claiming that Arsenal are prioritising left wingers that can also play on the opposite flank with Madueke as someone that can provide the versatility.
However, if that is the actual plan, it makes so much more sense to go all out for Rodrygo. The Real Madrid star would be a marquee signing that is capable of changing Arsenal’s entire attacking dynamic and potentially propel them forward.
The 24-year-old, despite being deployed on the right for most of his Real career because of Vinicius Jr, prefers playing on the other side and thus perfectly fits what Arsenal want.
Madueke on the other hand, has arguably lost his place in Chelsea’s strongest line-up, with Pedro Neto upping his performance levels over the last few months. He does have so much potential with some of that already displayed, but spending £50million without making an obvious upgrade is not the best use of funds.
Instead take that amount, plus just over half of it and sign Rodrygo with Los Blancos’ £77million (€90m) asking price more than justifiable given his ability, winning mentality and how the market has inflated over time. Rodrygo could change everything for Arsenal while Madueke may very easily just become a solid squad option.
