Arsenal handed transfer blow as Bournemouth agree £40m deal for player Mikel Arteta wanted

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Several Arsenal players are still in transfer limbo with the Premier League campaign about to begin, as moves away have not yet materialised.

Aaron Ramsdale and Reiss Nelson are still at Arsenal despite being linked with exits, and as things stand, will be part of the squad to face Wolves on the opening day.

Jakub Kiwior is also in a similar position, with the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori pushing him further down the pecking order.

Striker Eddie Nketiah is another who could end up leaving before the end of the transfer window. Arsenal rejected offers from Marseille for Nketiah, and they moved on to other targets.

Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar took a firm approach over his price tag, but Arsenal fans were worried that any deal for Nketiah’s exit would end up collapsing.

Bournemouth then registered an interest in Nketiah, and the strategy appeared to pay off as Andoni Iraola’s side were keen on the 25-year-old. However, they have now agreed a deal for a different striker.

• READ MORE: Everything to know on Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah from his parents to rapping

Bournemouth agree deal to sign Evanilson instead of Eddie Nketiah

After losing Dominic Solanke to Tottenham Hotspur, AFC Bournemouth were interested in two strikers including Arsenal’s Nketiah, with Porto striker Evanilson the other target.

However, they have now agreed a club-record £40m to sign the Brazilian from the Portuguese giants, meaning that they will no longer pursue Nketiah at a similar price tag.

Evanilson was previously linked with Arsenal in the January transfer window, with Arteta reportedly an admirer of the player, and the 24-year-old started in both Champions League clashes against the Gunners last season.

Arsenal now face Eddie Nketiah transfer dilemma

With Marseille and Bournemouth now out of the running, Arsenal are running out of suitors for Nketiah.

Although talented on his day, Nketiah has fallen down the pecking order, and failed to start a single game in 2024.

If he does remain at the club, it could mean there is no room for an extra attacker to come in, and another season out of the starting XI could reduce Nketiah’s value even further.

Nketiah needs to play regularly, and a move this summer would be best for both him and the club, and Arsenal will now hope that more teams register an interest in him in the final weeks of the transfer window.