Arsenal star hands in Rice request as Edu makes smartest $50m decision yet

Arsenal transfer news: The latest Gunners media watch with reaction to stories on Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber as Mikel Arteta's summer plans hit full flow.

Welcome to the football.london transfer briefing. To help you keep on top of all things Arsenal going on in the market we've got the latest noises coming from social media, journalists and so-called ITKs, rounding up what's what in the world of the Gunners.

Partey asks to leave

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has reportedly told the club and Mikel Arteta that he wishes to leave this summer. It was revealed last month that the 30-year-old was a potential candidate to exit the midfield, especially as a deal to sign Declan Rice advances.

Granit Xhaka is also set to leave once a new defensive midfielder comes in and reports now suggest that a sale of him to Bayer Leverkusen has been delayed too. With the Bundesliga side offering him a four-year deal, Arsenal are now said to be asking for more money in response to the role being handed to the Swiss international.

In total, it makes for a messy situation whereby both players are waiting to leave whilst only incoming is on the cards currently. That isn't too much of a worry given the harmony that Arteta has created in the squad and the senior roles that Partey and Xhaka have played, but waiting deep into the window helps nobody.

Timber not training

This price still falls short of the price that Ajax are looking to recoup for their 22-year-old but is an advance on the first offer made by Arsenal as the deal looks closer and closer to completion.

If all goes well then he will be joining up with the squad that tours America this month and there will be excitement over his deal. As for a relationship with Ajax, it's hardly going to be too bad, even as an academy player.

We have seen players avoid training before and it descends into chaos, on this occassion it just seems to be the smartest choice.