Report: Romano posts Arsenal transfer update as club only want to sign players on one condition

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Arsenal reportedly only want transfer targets who are 100% convinced about joining the club this summer.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners want to sign players this window who are happy about joining the north London side this summer and that are on board with the project.

Mikel Arteta has so far only managed to sign Nuno Tavares this month. However, Albert Sambi Lokonga is expected to be revealed next week before Arsenal jet off to the USA for pre-season.

Ben White is also close to signing for the Gunners. The Athletic report that the defender will have his medical with Arsenal once he has returned from his extended holiday following the end of Euro 2020.

Locatelli is a transfer target for Arsenal

As per Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal also remain keen on Manuel Locatelli. The north London side are keen to pay the €40m (£34m) price tag for the Italian.

However, the central midfielder is waiting for Juventus to match the Gunners’ offer.

Indeed, Locatelli’s reluctance to move to Arsenal links back to the club only wanting to sign players who are fully on board with the ambition Arteta has set for himself ahead of next season.

The Gunners finished eighth last campaign and will not be competing in Europe for the first time in 26 years.

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Arsenal remaining in the race for Locatelli despite Arteta and Edu seemingly wanting transfer targets who are 100% convinced to join might seem counterintuitive. Yet this approach from the Gunners duo might be the right initiative to take this window.

The Gunners have long been guilty of signing players who are quality on paper yet lack the mentality to fight for the badge and to get the fans on their feet.

Indeed, Arteta understands better than anyone just how important this window is. And signing players who want to change the club for the good is a positive approach to implement this summer.

Nuno Tavares has already shown this in this weekend’s pre-season game against Rangers. And fans will hope Lokonga and White can bring a similar approach once they arrive in north London.