Arsenal transfer state of play with two signings imminent and five players set to leave

Arsenal transfer state of play with two signings imminent and five players set to leave

Arsenal have been active in the summer transfer window with the club set to surpass the £200million mark in the coming days.

The Gunners have spent almost £600million on 25 different players since Mikel Arteta took charge of the club in December 2019.


Sporting director Edu has been working tirelessly to get Arsenal’s priority targets over the line, with Rice joining Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber as the latest arrivals at Emirates Stadium.

But who else could be on their way in to north London this summer? And which players are expected to depart the club in the next few weeks? We take a look at the current transfer state of play.

Outgoings – who could leave Arsenal?

Granit Xhaka’s move to Bayer Leverkusen is imminent and he will join the Bundesliga giants in a £21.5million transfer this week.

As first revealed by LondonWorld last month, Xhaka said his goodbyes to teammates at an end-of-season dinner in London after he told Mikel Arteta that he wanted to seek a new challenge for the 2023/24 season.

Arsenal’s midfield exodus is also likely to see the departure of Albert Sambi Lokonga, who is being targeted by Burnley in what would likely be a season-long loan deal. There is also interest for Lokonga from teams in France and Germany.

Nicolas Pepe’s recent comments in the French media suggest that he will be assessed in pre-season before Gunners boss Arteta makes a final decision on his future.

“Because I was loaned with a loan without an option to buy, I have to go back to Arsenal,” said Pepe.

“After that, we don’t know. Go back there, see, speak with the manager and everyone to see everyone’s ideas, and only then make a decision.”

Meanwhile, Cedric Soares has returned for pre-season training but is likely to be surplus to requirements for the upcoming campaign with the arrival of Timber in his position.

Cedric’s compatriot Nuno Tavares is another player expected to leave, although source have told GoonerNews that a final decision will only be made after the Under-21 European Championship ends.

Incomings – who could join?

The Gunners are expected to focus on outgoings once the signings of Rice and Timber go through, but a move for Romeo Lavia is possible if they lose another central midfielder this summer.

Thomas Partey has been linked with a move away but nothing is concrete in terms of his exit as of yet, with Arsenal maintaining a close relationship with the agents of Lavia in particular.

There is also positive news in the way of William Saliba and Reiss Nelson’s imminent contract extensions, which will be announced in due course.

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