Ensuring a strong relationship with a club is all part of a sporting director’s job and Arsenal representative, Edu Gaspar, has certainly built an ever-growing network of clubs and intermediaries to aid in the Gunners’ squad building. This summer has seen some major movement in regard to incomings with Kai Havertz already signed and an agreement with West Ham to buy Declan Rice in a record deal football.london understands.
However, it was regarding outgoings that the Brazilian would be scrutinised perhaps most of all this summer after a lengthy list of exits has come at little-to-no financial benefit to the club. In some cases, like with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mesut Ozil, Shkodran Mustafi and Sead Kolasinac, the club have had to agree on the termination of their contracts.
Yet the summer of 2023 has got off to a significantly better start with the potential sale of Granit Xhaka. Despite early suggestions of a £13million fee with Bayer Leverkusen being agreed, football.london understands that the Swiss international is now set to move for £21.5million instead.
Edu’s positive conversations with the German club enabled the deal to go through with the boosted price tag. The money can now be used in other areas, perhaps helping to pay off the acquisition of Rice for £105million.
However, perhaps using this enforced relationship with Leverkusen can benefit Arsenal in more ways than one. Reports suggest Arsenal have an interest in Dutch international Jeremie Frimpong.
The 22-year-old had a brilliant campaign for the Bundesliga club and after two and a half years has become one of the leading lights in his role in Germany. His experience extends into Britain having come through the Manchester City academy before moving to Celtic in 2019.
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The successful negotiations with Leverkusen for Xhaka, are sure to give Edu a great entry point into any potential discussions for Frimpong. A price tag of €40million (£34million) seems very reasonable and certainly attainable for the Gunners.
There is also a clear interest in a player to give Mikel Arteta a different option at right-back. football.london understands the club have held a long-time interest in Ivan Fresneda, although a move has not materialised so far and interest grows from Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona.
However, there is no doubt that Frimpong is stylistically the most offensive option of the group. His eight goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga are plenty evidence enough of this and certainly why Arsenal have been keeping a close eye.
