Arsenal 'advance' with key transfer as $110m Kvaratskhelia bid 'prepared'

Arsenal transfer news: The latest media briefing from the Emirates Stadium with reaction to stories on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, David Raya and Matt Turner.

Excitement for the 2023/24 season is well and truly building as Arsenal look to continue their rise up the table. Ahead of their Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest on August 12 they first have to take on Manchester City, a true test of their credentials.

Although the Community Shield rarely acts as a true precursor for failure or success in a season, in fact it is often the opposite, having lost out to Pep Guardiola's side at the top last year, Mikel Arteta will be determined to get off on a positive note here.

It is a true curtain raiser for the season and following a mixed pre-season tour of America, there is still work to be done. The Gunners are closing in on a complete first XI but strength in depth is still desired heading into the final weeks of the window.

He writes: "Nottingham Forest submitted an official bid for Matt Turner. Understand the proposal has been made for a permanent transfer, talks advancing with Arsenal.

That now doesn't look set to be an issue with Turner appearing to be the favourite for Forest, opening up two key moves for Arsenal as they continue to act quickly this summer.

football.london says: This makes sense for everyone, to some extent. Turner for sure is after first team football and needs to prove himself consistently so as to ensure he keeps his place as the No.1 for his country. With Gabriel Slonina's emergence, there is a real chance he could lose his place in the coming years.

What doesn't make sense is that Turner was in position as the secure second choice last summer and very little has changed. Unless there was the feeling that he would be able to overthrow Ramsdale, nothing is pushing this deal. Arsenal themselves may be keen to add Raya, someone they see is a bigger challenge for the gloves when it matters, but that in itself is questionable.

Selling Turner will be a nice cash influx to help fund the move but the logistics of it are not immediately clear. Although the individuals involved may each relish and aspire to such competition and opportunities. not all of them can win.

For Turner to be on his way out and Raya in, it is a simple swap, in effect. A deal that is less simple is looking at the attack. Mohammed Kudus is player deeply admired but progress has been hard to come by in the past two weeks with Chelsea present.

They are looking elsewhere at the same time though, especially with the injury to Gabriel Jesus posing as a serious threat to their early season form already.

football.london says: In the modern football world very few players shoot onto the scene like Kvaratskhelia did last season. From being a nobody he was already being labelled as one of the best wingers in the world after just two months under Luciano Spalletti.

Jesus' injury will have shocked and scared Arsenal, especially after their title challenge went off the rails last season during a period in which their Brazilian talisman was far from his best whilst building up fitness. Under the added pressure of pundits and fans following their unexpected levels of success, there will be no excuses this season and Kvaratskhelia would be the perfect option to add competition and depth for league and continental matches.