Arsenal are set for a massive transfer window as they aim to bridge the gap to Premier League winners Manchester City.
There are four positions being primarily targeted by Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, with a new right-back, attacker and two midfielders – most notably West Ham United captain Declan Rice – all being targeted by the North London club.
Arsenal are reportedly willing to break their transfer record to pay £90million to West Ham and offer Rice £300,000-a-week. Rice is their number one priority, but the Gunners will face plenty of competition for his services – with Manchester City also tabling a bid.
Arsenal have agreed a £65m deal for Chelsea star Kai Havertz and will also bid £40m to land Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia. Arsenal have also lodged a bid for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber who had been a primary transfer target for Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag – who coached him at Ajax
The moves for Rice and Lavia would act as de facto direct replacements for Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka. Mirror Football revealed Partey was attracting interest from Italy and now Saudi Arabia as well while Xhaka has a deal in place to join Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.
More transfer fees could be raised and space in Arsenal’s wage budget cleared by Cedric Soares, Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney being among those who could be moved on this summer. There is also a trio of Premier League clubs interested in striker Eddie Nketiah.
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The clearout may not end there with Albert Sambi Lokonga, Folarin Balogun, Mohamed Elneny, Nuno Tavares and Nicolas Pepe among those who Arsenal will listen to offers for as they seek to rejuvenate their squad.
Lavia and Rice would form the base of Arsenal’s midfield, with Timber slotting in at right-back – challenging Ben White in the position. William Saliba and Gabriel would form the central defensive partnership, with goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko retaining their positions.
Havertz’s inclusion is more complicated, as he is likely to be including in an attacking line-up which will be rotated with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, with Martin Odegaard remaining in a central position behind striker Gabriel Jesus.
Arsenal’s new-look XI : Ramsdale; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Lavia, Rice; Saka, Odegaard, Havertz; Jesus
