Arsenal are hoping to announce the £105million signing of West Ham captain Declan Rice by Sunday before Mikel Arteta's squad travel to America. The Gunners are set to take their summer spending to over £200million with the signings of Rice and Ajax defender Jurrien Timber.
Both players are expected to be confirmed as Arsenal players this week after completing medical tests last weekend. Arteta is hoping to add a couple more signings to his squad before the transfer window shuts with a versatile forward and another midfielder on the club's agenda.
Granit Xhaka's departure to Bayer Leverkusen in a £21.5million deal last week will see Rice come straight in to replace the Swiss midfielder - whilst Thomas Partey has also been linked with an exit from the Emirates Stadium. Timber will bolster the defence and his versatility will provide cover at centre-back and right-back heading into the new season.
According to SkySports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, Arsenal want to confirm Timber's arrival before Thursday's friendly against Nurnberg in Germany. The report adds that the Gunners' plan is to wrap up a deal for Rice by Sunday so that he can join the squad in time to fly to America.
Albert Sambi Lokonga has withdrawn from the squad set to face Nurnberg due to a small muscular injury. The Belgian midfielder could recover in time to travel to the USA - but is unclear when he will be due back in training.
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Arteta will want to have most of his new signings integrated into the squad before the trip to the United States in order to prepare his players in the best possible way before the 2023/24 campaign begins. The Gunners will hope they can challenge for the Premier League title once again next term whilst also looking to progress into the latter stages of the Champions League.
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