Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar is expecting a busy summer, planning to remain close to London for face-to-face meetings.
Speaking to reporters this week, Edu Gaspar reflected on Arsenal’s 2022/23 season, and their plans for the upcoming summer transfer window.
Edu told James Green that he’s not planning to go too far this summer, with no trips to Brazil on the agenda, because he wants to be close by for face-to-face meetings. He’s expecting a ‘very, very busy’ summer.
The Arsenal sporting director clearly wants to help the team take the next step, after an encouraging season that was ultimately tinged with disappointment.
“I think we are all happy to see the progression of the team and the club,” Edu said to LondonWorld.
“That’s the main reason we feel proud of the season. To be fair, we have the taste that we could make something really special.
“We have to respect what we have done and must keep going in the right direction, keep the mentality to try and win important things. Let’s keep going in the direction we planned. Let’s keep going for next season.”
“We work in the best way possible,” Edu added on Arsenal’s transfer window plans.
“We try to do as best as we can to make this squad stronger and better. That’s our main purpose, to see the progression and to see the club moving forward in the right direction.”
Arsenal certainly have a lot of work to do this summer, on all fronts.
When it comes to outgoings, a few already seem to be wrapped up, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles seemingly leaving on a free transfer, Granit Xhaka joining Bayer Leverkusen, and Pablo Mari making his loan move to AC Monza permanent.
But there’s also Kieran Tierney’s links to Newcastle United, speculation around Rob Holding and Emile Smith Rowe, and reports that youth stars Arthur Okonkwo, Charlie Patino, and Folarin Balogun all might leave.
Then there are other loanees seemingly on the market, like Runar Alex Runarsson, Auston Trusty, Cedric Soares, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Nicolas Pepe.
In addition to all that, there are the incomings, with Declan Rice of West Ham United the priority signing, but interest in plenty of others.
The Gunners look keen to bring in two midfielders, and maybe a couple of defenders as well, though nothing seems to be set in stone yet.
And then there’s the work the club still need to do on the contract front.
Whilst this season has been a positive one for new contracts, with starters Bukayo Saka, Aaron Ramsdale, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Gabriel Martinelli signing on, there’s more work to be done.
Arsenal need to get Reiss Nelson’s new deal wrapped up, they need to reach an agreement with William Saliba (whose deal expires next year), and it would be good to get ahead on Ben White and Martin Odegaard as well.
In summary, yes, it looks like it will indeed be a busy summer for Edu.