Arsenal Football Club

[Jay Gooner]

Arsenal’s summer transfers: Lokonga among midfield options, Nketiah offered new deal, Tyler Adams interest

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Arsenal have been clear that they have a strategy in place for this summer, with manager Mikel Arteta speaking about “a clear plan”. But planning only gets you so far in the chaos of the transfer window.

There is also a need to be reactive and opportunistic. A transfer landscape that is constantly changing requires a degree of improvisation.

The situation is continually evolving. The window only officially opened on June 9, but already there have been significant developments. Earlier this week, one name was crossed off Arsenal’s list of targets when Emiliano Buendia agreed to join Aston Villa.

The Argentina international has been admired by Arsenal since his arrival in England in 2018. He was watched closely through Norwich’s promotion-winning campaign from the Championship, and with Arsenal in the market for an attacking midfielder this summer, interest intensified. While Martin Odegaard has been the club’s preferred target, Buendia was certainly a name under strong consideration.

By the time Arsenal came to the bidding table, it was already too late. Aston Villa had been clear for some time that Buendia was their No 1 target, and pressed ahead with their bid to sign the player almost as soon as the season was over. In the days leading up to the move, Arsenal did make a solitary bid for the 24-year-old. When that was rejected, they did not return with a second offer.

It gave Villa a clear run to make their club-record signing. This was a chase Villa always led, helped by the close relationship between Villa chief executive Christian Purslow and Norwich sporting director Stuart Webber, who worked together at Liverpool a decade ago.

Sources close to the negotiations were left with the impression that Arsenal’s interest was somewhat tepid — perhaps indicative of the fact Buendia was only ever one of several potential candidates. In the end, Villa paid a fee of £30 million plus add-ons. It seems Arsenal had a price at which they considered Buendia good value, and were not prepared to go beyond it.

Perhaps part of what constitutes “a clear plan” is having alternative options on the agenda. That’s the approach Arsenal have taken in this window, exploring a number of prospective deals simultaneously. The same is true in central midfield.

As reported by The Athletic’s Tim Spiers, Ruben Neves is among Arsenal’s targets. Wolves must sell in order to spend this summer, and Neves will be permitted to leave if a club meets his £35 million valuation.

Arsenal are also, however, interested in Anderlecht’s Belgium Under-21 international Albert Sambi Lokonga. The club’s analysts have tracked his progress for some time, and he is among Arsenal’s list of summer targets.

 

Arsenal have been tracking Lokonga for some time (Photo: Herman Dingler/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

Despite his youth, Lokonga has already amassed considerable experience in the Jupiler League, making 50 appearances over the past two seasons. The 21-year-old is regarded as a multi-functional midfield player, and an effective ball-carrier. If Neves appears a direct replacement for Granit Xhaka, then Lokonga’s more dynamic style makes for a more natural comparison with Thomas Partey.

Lokonga earned his first call-up to the Belgium senior squad in March 2021, is on the standby list for Euro 2020 and has attracted interest from AC Milan and other European clubs. Nevertheless, he is likely to move for a considerably lower fee than Neves.

Additions in this area of the pitch will be vital: Matteo Guendouzi is edging towards a move to Marseille, while Xhaka is the subject of interest from Jose Mourinho’s Roma. Joe Willock, meanwhile, remains a target for Newcastle. Arsenal are not currently in talks with Mohamed Elneny, whose deal expires in 2022, about a new contract.

As well as central midfield, a central defender remains high on the agenda. Arsenal have been looking for a right-sided centre-half since before the January transfer window, and remain determined to strengthen their options in the position.

The goalkeeper is another area where Arsenal have multiple targets. Ajax’s Andre Onana is one name in contention: the Cameroon international is currently waiting to hear whether the Court of Arbitration for Sport will overturn his 12-month suspension for consuming a banned substance. As things stand, he is unable to play until February. The player hopes for a substantial reduction after claiming he accidentally took a drug prescribed for his wife and he may get a verdict as early as this week.

If the ban is upheld, Onana will most likely move on a free transfer in the summer of 2022. There is also interest in the player from France and Italy.

In the meantime, Arsenal are also interested in securing a quality number two. Mat Ryan has returned to Brighton after his loan, while Alex Runarsson is seen as more suited to the third-choice role. The club have decided they do not want to make do with another “back-up”; they want someone who can provide competition, ideally meets the homegrown requirements and has the potential to be a No 1. David Raya’s promotion with Brentford takes him off the table — his release clause is now invalid.

The immediate future of Bernd Leno is unclear. The player is open to a move, and Arsenal potentially to a sale. Leno’s existing deal expires in two summers’ time. Currently, there is no great appetite on either side for contract extension talks.

One player Arsenal have made a contract offer to, somewhat surprisingly, is Eddie Nketiah. The 22-year-old forward has 12 months remaining on his existing deal, but Arsenal have to sought to extend his contract in order to protect their investment and grant them some flexibility.

 

Arsenal have offered Nketiah a new deal (Photo: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

While Arteta is a stated fan of Nketiah’s ability, the success of Willock’s time at Newcastle may also have influenced Arsenal’s thinking: with a good loan spell under his belt, Nketiah may fetch more at the end of next season than he would right now.

Nketiah, however, is unlikely to sign a contract extension at a club where his future remains unclear. There are interested parties in the Premier League and abroad, and should Nketiah refuse the offer, he will probably be sold.

It remains the case that Arsenal are unlikely to buy a new striker in this window. The young pair of Gabriel Martinelli and Folarin Balogun both hope for first-team minutes next season. Only with multiple departures in this area would Arsenal consider stepping into the market.

The club have been linked with Leicester target Odsonne Edouard. Although he has been watched on multiple occasions in recent years, Arsenal have not as yet pursued the Celtic player with any fervency. While few doubt Edouard’s talent, there have been concerns that his work rate and fitness levels would have to improve substantially in order for him to thrive in the Premier League.

In the longer term, Sweden forward Alexander Isak is a player of interest. Although the 21-year-old belongs to Read Sociedad, the situation is complicated by the fact that Borussia Dortmund retain a €30 million buyback clause on a player they sold in 2019. Reports suggest Sociedad hope to pay a fee to cancel the clause — should they do so, Isak would become a more feasible target for Arsenal and other European clubs.

 

Isak, 21, is a long-term target for Arsenal (Photo: Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

Arsenal are still pursuing targets in both full-back positions. At right-back, the club are keen on RB Leipzig’s 22-year-old US international Tyler Adams. One of the appealing factors about Adams is that he can play both as a right-back and central midfielder, which makes him a good fit for Arteta’s “inverted” system on that flank. Leipzig are reluctant to allow Adams to leave, however, especially given the high-profile departures of Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate. He may be another to return to at a later date.

The left-back situation, meanwhile, is particularly complex. The club face the unenviable task of finding someone content to be back-up to Kieran Tierney, but sufficiently competent to replace him if required.

We are a matter of days into the window, and already there is so activity happening, and so many variables to consider.

In an attempt to deal with the huge task before them, Edu, Richard Garlick, Arteta and Arsenal are currently spinning plates. Time will tell if they’re able to pull off the ultimate trick of a successful window.

Additional contributor: David Ornstein

 

[froehlix]

Anscheinend holen wir Ben White für ca 50mio£ (Ornstein).

Bin gespannt wie das Fenster weitergeht, IV hätte ich jetzt eher nicht als größte Priorität gesehen (Saliba???)

[fenix]

Salina sehen wir eher nicht.

[Jay Gooner]

Tierney hat bis 2026 verlängert 

[Manu_Graz]

Jay Gooner schrieb vor 39 Minuten:

Tierney hat bis 2026 verlängert 

Smith-Rowe noch und ich bin überglücklich. Tierney für mich eigentlich derjenige, der die Schleife kriegen sollte.

[Jay Gooner]

Partey trägt ab sofort die Nummer 5 wie schon bei seinen bisherigen Vereinen und für Ghana, sollte somit also natürlich sein Potenzial wieder 100%ig abrufen und sich nimmer dauernd verletzen. Das war nur Unglück weil er nicht seine lucky number getragen hat, ist von mir offiziell bestätigt 

bearbeitet 29. Juni 2021 von Jay Gooner

[dialsquare]

Wir sind anscheinend an Lokonga von Anderlecht dran, wäre ein Mittelfeldspieler

[themanwhowasntthere]

dialsquare schrieb vor 6 Stunden:

Wir sind anscheinend an Lokonga von Anderlecht dran, wäre ein Mittelfeldspieler

jup, genau wie xhaka, torreira und guendouzi einer ist 

[fenix]

Vielleicht bringt die gute EM von Xhaka ein paar zusätzliche £.

Zu den übrigen Rumours: Auf Lokonga hoffe ich nicht, da wäre mir Sander Berge lieber. Locatelli halte ich, wie im Italien Channel geschrieben, für eine Nebelgranate. Onana brauche icht nicht, da haben wir andere Baustellen. Tavares könnt ich mir als Back Up zu Tierney gut vorstellen. White würde mir gefallen, auch wenn wir damit wohl Saliba endgültig abgeben werden. Einen Abgang von Guendouzi fände ich Schade, wohingegen Willian, Bellerin und Torreira gerne gehen können.

[fenix]

Das wird noch ein ereignisreicher Sommer werden. Derzeit schaut es unter Berücksichtigung der wahrscheinlichen Zu- und Abgänge (White bzw. Bellerin, Saliba, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Guendouzi und Willian) so aus:

Leno

Cedric - White - Gabriel - Tierney

Elneny - Partey

Pepe - Smith-Rowe - Saka

Aubameyang

 

Lacazette

Martinelli - Willock - Nelson

Maitland-Niles - XXX

XXX - Mari - Holding - Chambers

Runarsson

Weitere Wackelkandidaten sind wohl Runarsson, Maitland-Niles, Nelson und Willock. Daher rechne ich noch mit folgenden Zugängen: TW, RV, LV, 1-2 DM, RM/LM und OM.

bearbeitet 5. Juli 2021 von fenix
Ergänzung

[dialsquare]

Bin gespannt was rauskommt, würde jedoch lieber mehr Spieler weithin bei Arsenal sehen, najo schauma mal 

[Noobody]

Guendouzi soll vor ner stunde seine medizinischen tests absolviert haben und somit auch bei OM unterschreiben

Saliba soll auch bei OM landen laut div Meldungen.. Die Angebote die aus Newcastle und Southampton(?) kamen, dürften daran nichts geändert haben Problem dürfte hier nur sein wegen Leihe

[fenix]

dialsquare schrieb vor 1 Stunde:

Bin gespannt was rauskommt, würde jedoch lieber mehr Spieler weithin bei Arsenal sehen, najo schauma mal 

Ich hätte vor allem gerne Willock und AMN weiterhin für den "British core". Wenn man allerdings wirklich Ödegaard bekommt, dann muss man Willock verkaufen. Und AMN möchte sich, glaub ich, auch nicht mehr hinten anstellen. ESR muss jedenfalls gehalten werden!

White, Holding, Chambers, Tierney, Maitland-Niles, Saka und Smith-Rowe wären schon gut. Vl. kommt auch Azeez näher ran.

[Noobody]

offiziell

 

 

https://www.om.fr/fr/actualites/4803/equipe-pro/52018-matteo-guendouzi-est-olympien

[huawaJ]

Noobody schrieb am 6.7.2021 um 14:54 :

offiziell

 

 

https://www.om.fr/fr/actualites/4803/equipe-pro/52018-matteo-guendouzi-est-olympien

Nur leihe, richtig? Bin nach wie vor der meinung, dass er sehr viel potenzial hat. Xhaka wird dann eher gehalten, denke ich.