With a new sporting director in place, Arsenal are planning an aggressive summer
After missing out on another Premier League title and a painful Champions League semi-final exit in Paris, Arsenal are heading into a summer that promises change.
Mikel Arteta and new sporting director Andrea Berta are united in their belief that the squad must be reshaped to overcome the fine margins that have kept silverware just out of reach.
The club’s primary focus is the forward line and Arsenal will finally prioritise the signing of a genuine centre-forward, with Alexander Isak viewed as the ideal, if perhaps unrealistic candidate.
Newcastle United’s Champions League qualification and their £150 million valuation make a deal there highly improbable.
Instead, Arsenal are advancing on Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyökeres.
Sesko, 21, with 21 goals this season for RB Leipzig, fits the long-term profile Berta is eager to build around. Much of the groundwork has already been laid.
Gyökeres, who scored 38 league goals for Sporting CP, is a proven finisher with some suggesting Arsenal see him as their most realistic option.
On the left flank, Nico Williams of Athletic Club is the leading candidate to challenge Gabriel Martinelli, but his wage demands are said to be excessive. Other options include Rafael Leão at AC Milan and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens at Borussia Dortmund.
With Leandro Trossard exploring a move to Saudi Arabia, the Gunners will not stand in his way if he opts to leave.
In midfield, Martin Zubimendi is expected to join from Real Sociedad, with talks now at an advanced stage. His €60 million release clause has not deterred Arsenal, who see him as the long-term partner for Declan Rice.
Jorginho is set to depart on a free transfer to Flamengo, and Oleksandr Zinchenko could join Dortmund, having lost his place to Myles Lewis-Skelly and Riccardo Calafiori this season.
Outgoings will also define the window. Arsenal are ready to sell Nuno Tavares, Fábio Vieira, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Reiss Nelson.
Tavares is expected to join Lazio permanently, with a £5 million clause in his loan deal. The Italians value him at around €40m and are considering selling him on immediately. If they do, Arsenal have a 40% sell-on clause also included in the deal, which is expected to go through in the first two weeks of June.
Vieira, currently at Porto, does not seem to have done enough to earn a permanent place back at Arsenal and will likely be sold, while Lokonga is unlikely to remain at Sevilla, who are suffering from financial issues after a poor season.
In addition, Max Dowman, who turns 16 in December, is being fast-tracked internally and could be included in the first team squad next season. Arteta is understood to be confident in his technical quality and maturity.
Behind the scenes, Arsenal are also working on new deals for Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel, three cornerstones of the current project. With the spine of the squad largely intact, the strategy this summer is about finding those final pieces.
Arsenal are not far away, but they know this summer’s market must finally turn promise into trophies.