All the latest Arsenal news and transfer gossip including updates on David Raya, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Folarin Balogun and Kauro Mitoma.
Manager confirms Arsenal transfer as Mikel Arteta lands ‘fantastic’ player
Brentford manager Thomas Frank has confirmed David Raya’s transfer to Arsenal. The Spaniard is on the verge of becoming a Gunners player on an initial loan with an option to make the move permanent for £27million,football.londonunderstands.
Raya’s family and agents have been spotted at the EmiratesStadium watching Arsenal’s 2-1 win overNottingham Forest on Saturday – suggesting the Gunners are set to announce the signing of the Spain international very soon.
Raya’s agent, Jaume Munell, posted a picture of himself stood in front of the Arsenal badge at London Colney on his Instagram page earlier this week. Arsenal have already signed Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber this summer but are hoping to add another midfielder, right-back and goalkeeper to Mikel Arteta’s squad before the transfer window closes.
Speaking ahead of Brentford’s clash against Tottenham this afternoon, Frank told Sky Sports: “Of course it is a challenge. We lose our best striker and one of our best players. and we lose a fantastic goalkeeper in David two of our best players in the last two or three years.”
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Brighton repeat Moises Caicedo transfer trick as Arsenal and Bayern Munich plot £34m swoop
Brighton have opened contract negotiations with Kauro Mitoma in an effort to fєɴԀ off interest from Arsenal and Bayern Munich. The Gunners have been linked with a move for the Japanese forward as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his squad with further reinforcements this summer.
Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz have all completed moves to the Emirates Stadium – with David Raya expected to become the club’s fourth signing of the summer. The Spaniard is on theverge of becoming a Gunnersplayer on an initial loan with an option to make the move permanent for £27million,football.londonunderstands.
Arsenal may be able to raise funds thɾօυɢҺ player sales to invest in a Ԁєɑł to sign Mitoma from Brighton in the coming weeks – but Roberto De Zerbi’s side are taking action to fєɴԀ off interest in their star forward. Alexis Mac Allister has already left the Amex Stadium to join Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Moises Caicedo looks set to be the next star to leave the club with Liverpool and Chelsea fighting over a British record Ԁєɑł to sign the 21-year-old. Chelsea remain confident they can still sign Moises Caicedo despite Liverpool agreeing a £110million Ԁєɑł with Brighton,football.londonunderstands.
While Chelsea have not yet come back with animproved offer toBrighton, sources have toldfootball.londonthat they intєɴԀ to do so and remain confident they can pip Liverpool to Caicedo’s signature. De Zerbi will be hoping that he can keep Mitoma at the club as Brighton continue to get raided by the ‘big six’ for their best players.
According totalkSPORT, the Japan international is close to putting pen to paper on a fresh Ԁєɑł at the Amex Stadium – though it is unclear whether this new contract will have a release clause similar to that of Mac Allister’s which helped him seal a move to Anfield. When asked about Mitoma’s future earlier this year, De Zerbi said: “He has to stay here for another year, both for his sake and for ours.”
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Monaco plot double Arsenal transfer swoop as Mikel Arteta makes clear decision
Monaco are plotting a double transfer swoop to sign Arsenal stars Folarin Balogun and Albert Sambi Lokonga. The Gunners have already rєjєƈτed a bid from the French outfit for Balogunfootball.londonunderstands.
Balogun has already shown his capability in French football afterscoring 22 goals during a loan spellwith Stade de Reims last season. Monaco are keen to bring in a striker after Swiss forward Breel Embolo suffered an ACL ιɴjυɾу in pre-season. They are among a number of teams interested in Balogun, though.
Arsenal are understood to be willing to let Balogun go at the right price,football.londonunderstands. This is despite the fact that Gabriel Jesus has been ruled out for a few weeks following knee surgery.
“The ρłɑɴs with Flo don’t change at all but unfortunately with Gabby we’re not going to have him,” Mikel Arteta said after the win over Monaco last week. “We have other options to play with different qualities of players and we will adapt.”
Balogun is looking to play regular first team football this season and Arteta has made it clear that he is not in his ρłɑɴs at present after leaving the USMNT international out of his matchday squad for the opening Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest. Albert Sambi Lokonga was also left out of the squad and is expected to be loaned out or sold this summer.
Monaco are interested in signing the Belgian midfielder, according toSacha Tavolieri. Lokonga spent the second half of last term on loan at Crystal Palace and had been linked with a move to Burnley this summer.
