Arsenal first pre-season friendly is less than a week away and the Gunners have yet to strengthen their hand this summer.
Mikel Arteta will hope to add to his squad to improve upon his side’s second-place finish last term. The north London side have cemented David Raya’s stay with the club by converting his loan into a permanent deal but seen no further arrivals.
Edu’s efforts to land Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori have hit a stumbling block as they attempt to negotiate with Bologna. Arsenal are set to soon welcome Ajax goalkeeper Tommy Setford however.
Mirror Football takes a look at some of the transfer stories surrounding the club below.
Arsenal in talks with star’s agents
Arsenal are in preliminary talks with the representatives of Pedro Neto. A £50million fee is said to be enough to convince Wolves to part ways with the Portuguese star.
It is said that Neto is prioritising a move to head to the Emirates Stadium. There has been no shortage of interest in the 24-year-old with Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea all holding an interest.
Wolves paid a reported £18m to Lazio for Neto and Bruno Jordao in 2019. It would see the Midlands side record a good profit despite any disappointment over the winger’s departure.
Arsenal tempt La Liga midfielder
Arsenal’s ability to offer Premier League and Champions League football is proving advantageous in the race to sign Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao. The Gunners will face competition from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid for his signature however.
The Euro 2024 winner has a £51m release clause but is likely to be available for a smaller fee due to having just one year remaining on his contract. The Basque side do not want to miss their opportunity to cash in on the 28-year-old who has previously played for Newcastle, Borussia Dortmund and Osasuna.
Calafiori latest
Arsenal’s move for Riccardo Calafiori appears to have stalled after Bologna chairman Claudio Fenucci admitted there was no update on the Italian defender’s future. The Gunners have agreed terms with the Italy international but progress has slowed over the transfer fee.
Bologna are required to pay a portion of the fee to FC Basel, and are thus reluctant to move on their asking price. The Serie A side are holding out for a package of £42m plus add-ons, while Arsenal’s current offer lies shy of £40m.
Fenucci told Italian outlet Calciomercato.it: “There is no news.”
“I haven’t heard of it,” added the chairman, when questioned about an approach from Juventus.
Author: Mujuni Henry
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