Arsenal transfer update: Mikel Arteta races against £68m deadline while taking on new position.
Mikel Arteta has bolstered his Arsenal squad this summer, but the Premier League’s second-place finishers from last season may still add more signings before the September 1 deadline.
Arsenal have been among the Premier League’s busiest clubs this summer, but their recruitment drive may not be over. Having signed players from Arrizabalaga to Zubimendi, the Gunners still have two weeks after Sunday’s league opener against Manchester United to strengthen their squad.
Their priority target is Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, valued at £68m. Arteta wants a player who can create from deep and operate off the left flank, but funding the move will require sales. Nuno Tavares and Marquinhos are already gone, while Thomas Partey’s release has eased the wage bill. Fabio Vieira, Leandro Trossard, and Jakub Kiwior are among those who could follow, with Vieira attracting a £16m approach from Stuttgart and Trossard linked to the Saudi Pro League. Offers are also welcome for Reiss Nelson, Karl Hein, and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Arsenal face two deadlines: the September 1 transfer window closure and this Friday, when Eze’s release clause expires. Meeting it would secure the England international now, though Palace could still negotiate afterward.
Off the pitch, Arteta has taken on a new role as brand ambassador and director of performance for Under Armour, praising the company’s shared ambition for innovation and player development.
However, Theo Walcott has urged Eze to think carefully before joining Arsenal, suggesting he would get more freedom and regular minutes at Palace ahead of the World Cup, whereas the demands at Arsenal might limit his attacking instincts.
