Arsenal is still looking for new players to strengthen the Mikel Arteta team, with Crystal Palace star Ebereechi Eze an important target for sports director Andrea Berta
Arsenal spent £ 200 million in the summer transfer window to bring in six new players, but still has more business to do before it closes at the end of September.
The Gunners have completed Deals for Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Crithian Mosquera and Viktor Gyokeres, with new sports director Andrea Berta extremely busy.
And after the 3-0 friendly victory over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, Mikel Arteta confirmed that more could come. “Let's look,” said Arteta. “Let's see what happens, in terms of where the team is in the coming weeks.
“But we are actively looking at options. There are also a few players, perhaps, that they also have to leave. So we will be open to see what is happening.” Here, football will mirror in the coming weeks to what those deals could be.
Berta's priorities clear
Arsenal has been busy this summer, but they did not succeed in selling their margin players and their rivals. The Gunners have only generated about £ 8.57 million by the sale of players after the sale of left back Nuno Tavares to Lazio and Marquinhos to Cruzeiro – and Berta has to tackle that.
Mirror Football understands that attention has now been paid to offloading unwanted stars. Reiss Nelson is at the top of that list because, if a home-grown player, his sale would be useful for profit and sustainability rules. Fulham has been talking about the winger, who loaned there last season.
Then there is Fabio Vieira, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Karl Hein and, Possible, Oleksandr Zinchenko. Arsenal knows that they have to balance the books, especially if they have to sign top goal Ebereechi Eze from Crystal Palace.
Eze plan progresses
There are encouraging signs about a movement for Eze, with other puzzle pieces that fall into place. Mirror Football understands that Stuttgart are constant discussions about a transfer for the former Porto midfielder, where Arsenal is looking for a package with a maximum value of £ 17.35 million (€ 20 million).
It is crucial that Stuttgart can get a deal after the sale of Enzo Millot on the Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. It is understood that the Frenchman has collected £ 25.9 million (€ 30 million), which means that the funds are there for Vieira, whose departure is needed to make room for Eze.
Palace does not want to sell their star player, but Arsenal believes that he would like to have a movement of £ 60 million, which can still end up in the last phases of the transfer window. Breathola lookman has emerged as an alternative if no deal can be closed.
Other possible departure
Arteta currently has a bloated team in Arsenal and departure is absolutely necessary. Contract negotiations with Leandro Trossard were stuck and bids would be entertained for the Belgian tool player, although Arteta would like to keep him as a team player.
Gabriel Jesus has been interested from Brazil, but is very unlikely that it will leave, given that he is recovering from a knee injury. The interest rate around Zinchenko died after questions from AC Milan and there is frustration around Sambi Lokonga, who still remains to Arsenal after Leen Proverbs with Luton and Sevilla.
Back-up goalkeeper Hein is interested in Levante and Rangers, where Arsenal is looking for a permanent sale, since he is in the last year of his contract.