Arsenal's dream end to the summer transfer window
- Arsenal have been busy already this summer
- Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber & David Raya have all moved to the Emirates
- Outgoings remain the order of business
By Tom Gott
After launching a surprise push for the Premier League title last season, Arsenal wasted little time this summer in splashing the cash and trying to get over the final hurdle.
A huge gamble was taken on Kai Havertz, whose three underwhelming years at Chelsea did not scare Mikel Arteta away from a £65m risk which is yet to pay off.
Having spent so much money this summer already, Arsenal are unlikely to be too busy in their search for further reinforcements, with the focus almost certainly now on bringing back some of that money.
Here's Arsenal's ideal end to the 2023/24 summer transfer window.
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Arsenal's summer transfers so far
Ins:
- Kai Havertz (FW) - Chelsea - £65m
- Declan Rice (MF) - West Ham - £105m
- Jurrien Timber (DF) - Ajax - £34m
- David Raya (GK) - Brentford - loan
Outs:
- Ainsley Maitland-Niles - released
- Pablo Mari - Monza - £6m
- Granit Xhaka - Bayer Leverkusen - £21.4m
- Auston Trusty - Sheffield United - £5m
- Matt Turner - Nottingham Forest - £10m
- Kieran Tierney - Real Sociedad - loan
- Marquinhos - Nantes - loan
- Alex Runarsson - Cardiff - loan
Which positions do Arsenal need to strengthen in?
The arrival of David Raya from Brentford leaves Arsenal incredibly strong in goal and fills one of the last major voids in Arteta's squad.
Arteta has long voiced a desire to have two starter-quality players for each position and perhaps the only glaring issue is at left-back, where Kieran Tierney's departure to Real Sociedad leaves just Oleksandr Zinchenko and fringe 23-year-old Nuno Tavares. Jakub Kiwior, a centre-back by trade, has been used in the role.
Central midfield is not an immediate concern for Arsenal but Arteta's current crop of Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny aren't getting any younger, so Gunners scouts could cast an eye to the future in this position.
Which players are Arsenal targeting?
At this late stage in the window, Arsenal aren't particularly busy. They don't necessarily need any further signings but clubs of this size are always working in the background to try and plan for the future.
Gremio midfielder Bitello, 23, remains of interest and would be a smart signing to inject some youth into Arsenal's ageing core.
Which players could leave Arsenal?
Outgoings are the priority at this late stage in the window.
In defence, Rob Holding, Cedric Soares and Nuno Tavares appear expendable, while young Albert Sambi Lokonga is on the fringes of Arsenal's midfield and has attracted interest from a handful of Premier League sides.
Gabriel Magalhaes has been heavily linked with an exit but, unless a ludicrous offer lands on the table, Arsenal are not going to sell.
Winger Nicolas Pepe faces an uncertain future but the biggest potential outgoing is in attack, where striker Folarin Balogun is expected to join Monaco in a deal worth over £40m.
Arsenal's dream end to the summer transfer window
Ins
- Bitello (MF) - Gremio - £8.5m
Outs
- Folarin Balogun - Monaco - £40m
- Rob Holding - Besiktas - £7.5m
- Cedric Soares - Villarreal - free
- Nuno Tavares - Aston Villa - £10m
- Nicolas Pepe - Besiktas - free
- Albert Sambi Lokonga - Burnley - loan