Arsenal remain active in the summer transfer window as Mikel Arteta can finally work with all six of the club’s signings. Viktor Gyokeres and Cristhian Mosquera are both in line to make their unofficial debuts for the club against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday in Hong Kong.
However, like Spurs, the Gunners are open to bringing in more attacking talent. In fact, the club have the chance to land more than one, depending on different circumstances which are still possible during the window.
Eberechi Eze and Rodrygo are two of the main candidates to have been considered by Arsenal heading into the window. However, while there is a good chance of signing one more offensive signing, the chances of two were always low; and with that said football.london delves into what would need to happen for both to arrive.
Crystal Palace and Real Madrid demands
Both clubs have had high demands for their players this summer hence why neither has so far made the move from their respective clubs. Ebere Eze is understood to have a £67.5million release clause, football.london has been made aware.
Reports in Spain suggested that Los Blancos would be looking for excess of €90million (£78million) for the Brazilian. However, since then, there have been further reports that the Madrid side’s stance has softened.
Considering Arsenal have spent close to £200million already without making any considerable sales, UEFA Financial Fair Play is a consideration. To sign either or both, the club are hoping that both sides will lower their demands later in the window.
Moving on the fringe talent
Before Arsenal can make a move for even one of the potential two, there is a feeling that the club needs to move on some of its fringe players. Karl Hein, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Albert Sambi Lokonga all remain with the club.
Zinchenko, Lokonga and Nelson are currently on the tour in Asia with the side. The latter is understood by football.london to be in talks with Fulham over a potential move which would likely take the form of a loan with a purchase clause attached.
Selling these players would go some way to freeing up transfer funds, space on the wage bill and in the squad itself. The problem is that offers have not been forthcoming with an expectation of movement in the latter stages of the window.
A major departure
While Arsenal have sold some high-profile players in recent times, such as Emile Smith Rowe or Eddie Nketiah, for fees in the £30million range, the club have yet to break the £40million threshold in their entire history when it comes to a sale. Clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City have done this on many occasions.
It has formed part of club cycles as they invest, sell, and reinvest in talent throughout their existence. For Arsenal, though, the days of losing Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie among others is long gone.
However, to have a chance of signing Eze and Rodrygo, on top of fringe players, it would likely need a player in contention to start to leave, possibly from the left flank. Even were it to be Leandro Trossard, the Belgian’s expected value of around £20million might not be enough to give the club the wiggle room.
The focus, therefore, turns to Gabriel Martinelli. His expected price tag would be north of £50million and therefore a record; a sale of that ilk would go a long way to helping the club make a major double move for the targeted pair.
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