Arsenal could complete as many as three deals on transfer deadline day, leaving Mikel Arteta with his wish of a 25-man squad for the first half of the new season.
With Karl Hein on the fringes of an official call-up to the senior squad, he is one of three goalkeepers alongside Aaron Ramsdale and Matt Turner. The attacking quintet of Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson and Marquinhos is likely to remain intact with no incomings or outgoings expected in this department before 11pm.
Although, whilst Cedric Soares is staying put amid links to Fulham, there is expected to be movement in defence and midfield amid reports that Hector Bellerin has agreed to terminate his contract ahead of rejoining Barcelona and Ainsley Maitland-Niles' loan move to Southampton set to be announced shortly.
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And it could be two out and one in for Arsenal with links to Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz intensifying by the hour. Now, if an agreement for a £25m can be reached and the north London outfit can get a deal done before the window closes, Arteta will have the ideal scenario of three goalkeepers and 22 outfield players at his disposal.
In addition, the Gunners manager will be permitted to name their 25-man Premier League squad after the summer transfer window shuts - from which no more than 17 overseas players can be named - with the remaining eight places available to homegrown members at the club.
To be considered homegrown, players need to have been registered with any club affiliated to The Football Association or the Welsh FA for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).
Should Bellerin follow Maitland-Niles through the exit door, then the Arsenal senior players who will meet the homegrown criteria are Ben White, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Rob Holding, Aaron Ramsdale and Reiss Nelson. Interestingly, youngster Matt Smith could be added to the list, having been named on the bench against Aston Villa on Wednesday night.
The reason the midfielder would have to be included in order to play for the Gunners' senior team this season is that he was born before January 1, 2001, which means he cannot be registered as an Under-21 player who is eligible throughout the campaign alongside Hein, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Marquinhos.
In addition, following the departures of Nicolas Pepe, Bernd Leno, Pablo Mari, Nuno Tavares and Lucas Torreira over the past month, the Gunners' squad now contains 13 players who are classed as non-homegrown. Therefore they can register Luiz without any issues as the limit is 17.
Arsenal's 25-man Premier League squad if three deals are completed on transfer deadline day
Goalkeepers: Aaron Ramsdale*, Matt Turner
Defenders: Kieran Tierney, Ben White*, Gabriel Magalhaes, Rob Holding*, Cedric Soares, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko
Midfielders: Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe*, Fabio Vieira, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka, Douglas Luiz, Matt Smith*
Forwards: Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah*, Reiss Nelson*
Senior U21 players: Karl Hein, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Marquinhos
* = homegrown players
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