Mikel Arteta has been given approval for both Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey to leave Arsenal this summer, with their departures clearing the way for Declan Rice to join the club.
Xhaka has been reported to be leaving since the end of the season, with the Swiss midfielder linked with a move to join Bayer Leverksusen having been an important part of the club's successes during the 2022/23 season. He could now be joined out of the exit door, with the Gunners reported to be willing to consider offers for Partey.
Arsenal are expected to overhaul their midfield this summer, with Declan Rice their main priority as a long-term partner for Martin Odegaard. The latest developments clear the way for extra additions, with Moises Caicedo also a target for the club since a failed £60 million bid in January.
The Telegraph report that Arsenal will be willing to part with Partey, 30, with the defensive midfielder being one of the oldest players in Arteta's young squad. He and Xhaka both played important roles in Arsenal's early good form, but were exposed during the latter stages of the season through a mixture of form and fitness problems.
Partey in particular made mistakes in key matches, with the former Atletico Madrid man causing visible frustration to teammates in big moments. Last month, Mirror Football revealed that Partey was subject to interest from two Italian clubs, but recent developments suggest that his departure is set to be accelerated by the Arsenal hierarchy.
Arsenal had their first bid for Rice rejected, with the departure of both Xhaka and Partey having the chance to free up funds to launch a second bid for the Hammers' captain. This could also fund a move for Caicedo, with both players having been long-term targets.
Another option has also emerged in the form of Southampton's Romeo Lavia, with the Southampton midfielder expected to be subject to a transfer battle this summer, with Chelsea also interested. Arsenal are thought to hold an advantage in the pursuit to sign the 19-year-old and he is a strong candidate to arrive in the transfer window.
The Gunners are set to be well-backed this summer, with Stan Kroenke providing extensive funding for Arteta as his team returns to the Champions League next season. There is also believed to be a pursuit of Kai Havertz in the works, with Arsenal reported to have already had a bid rejected for the Chelsea star.
The financial backing from the club's owners is strong, with Arteta praising the Kroenke family, headed by father Stan and represented by son Josh, amid their planned investment in the club, having been well-backed in recent transfer windows.
He said in March: "Now they have shown they are fully committed, they have big ambitions and they are fully behind the club to give everything they can to make it successful. I am convinced the owners will continue to do everything to make us very successful and continue to invest in the club in the right way."
