It’s shaping up to be a busy summer for Arsenal with Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu reportedly working on a number of deals, including Kai Havertz and Declan Rice, to help the club compete for the Premier League title next season.
The Gunners are moving fast to strengthen their squad after Arteta sealed their return to the Champions League. Arsenal also finished the 2022/23 Premier League term in second after running Manchester City closest for the title. The north Londoners finished five points adrift.
Stan Kroenke, Arsenal’s owner, is now backing Arteta to build on the club’s impressive run in 2023/24. He has made a reported £200m budget available to the Spaniard. So, what deals is Edu currently working on with the announcement of Kai Havertz’s transfer to Arsenal seemingly imminent?
Kai Havertz to Arsenal latest
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According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the latest update about Havertz’s transfer is that Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle with Chelsea. The Gunners are set to pay in the region of £65m for the 24-year-old. They are now sorting the structure of the payments.
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Personal terms are already in place between Arsenal and Havertz, while his medical will also be scheduled soon. Edu is waiting to resolve the final details regarding potential instalments and add-ons with Chelsea before booking the Germany international in for his medical tests.
Chelsea are open to letting Havertz secure a transfer to Arsenal as the Blues strive to trim a bloated squad. He also only has two years to run on a £250k-a-week contract. The Aachen-born maestro put pen to paper on a five-year deal after leaving Bayer Leverkusen for £71m.
Declan Rice to Arsenal transfer latest
Along with potentially signing Havertz from Chelsea, Edu and Arteta are also working on the transfer of West Ham United captain, Declan Rice. The Irons have reportedly rejected a £90m bid fpor Declan Rice from the Gunners. The fee included £15m in future add-ons.
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West Ham immediately turned Arsenal’s latest offer for Rice down as the Irons value the 24-year-old at £100m. While the Hammers’ instant refusal of Edu’s approach has also tempted Manchester United to now consider submitting an offer of their own for the England anchor.
The expectation, however, remains that Arsenal will secure a transfer for Rice as Edu readies another offer. One factor that significantly strengthens the Gunners’ position in any transfer tussle is that the midfielder wants to leave London Stadium and switch to Emirates Stadium.
Manchester City are preparing a bid for the England international according to Football.London, but Rice has been vocal of his love for London which could swing the deal in Arsenal’s favour.
Speaking to Gary Neville on The Overlap Extra last year, Rice said: “I’m here all the time. I’ve always wanted to stay close to this place. I feel like I don’t want to lose my roots.”
Romeo Lavia to Arsenal transfer latest
Arteta further hopes to strengthen Arsenal’s first-team squad this summer with the transfer of Southampton midfielder, Romeo Lavia. According to The Independent, the Gunners are in a battle with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United for the young Belgium international.
Despite the Saints enduring relegation to the Championship, the south coast side still value the 19-year-old at £45m. He enjoyed an impressive debut season after joining the St Mary’s side from Manchester City last July for £10m, rising to £14m plus a £40m buyback for 2024.
Arsenal’s interest in Lavia’s transfer from Southampton has now sparked Chelsea, above all, to challenge for his signature. But a move to north London is still considered his most likely option. The Brussels-born gem featured in 29 Premier League games during the 22/23 term.
Jurrien Timber to Arsenal transfer latest
Edu is also currently holding talks with AFC Ajax over the potential transfer of Jurrien Timber to Arsenal this summer. The Daily Mail reports that the Gunners have submitted a £30m bid for the centre-half. But his Eredivisie outfit are demanding around £50m for the 22-year-old.
Arteta has identified Jurrien Timber as a target for the Emirates Stadium natives this summer as the Spaniard wants a versatile defender who is good on the ball. He is also eager to sign a player who can start at right-back but move into midfield like left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Timber is keen on a transfer to Arsenal and the Gunners are confident of agreeing on a deal with Ajax. But Arteta and Edu also have a backup list of possible targets including RB Leipzig enforcer Mohamed Simakan. They will target alternatives if a move for Timber falls through.
Thomas Partey transfer latest
In addition to the players that Arsenal are attempting to sign this summer, Edu is also in talks about the possible transfer of Thomas Partey to teams in Saudi Arabia, per Fabrizio Romano. Clubs in the Arabian Peninsula nation are prepared to pay €40m (£34.5m) for the Ghanaian.
Any fee the Saudi clubs pay for the 30-year-old would be spread out over the duration of his contract there. While Arsenal are not opposed to sanctioning a transfer for Partey, who also has approaches from European clubs, the midfielder is yet to decide if he is open to a move.
Partey has two years remaining on a £200k-a-week contract at Arsenal. The Gunners made him one of their top earners in October 2020 after triggering the £45m release clause in his contract with Atletico Madrid. He has since suffered three injury-hit campaigns in England.