Arsenal transfer news: Why Gunners snubbed Sesko as Thomas Partey finds new club

Arsenal are gearing up for their Premier League opener against Manchester United in less than a fortnight but Mikel Arteta's much-changed squad continues to be linked for with new additions

Arsenal stars are sharpening their tools as the new season appears on the horizon with a fortnight to go before their Premier League campaign begins with a trip to Manchester United.

But the Gunners continue to be linked with a deal for Crystal Palace and England star Eberechi Eze following a hectic summer in north London. That, however, may require a number of players to exit the club and reports suggest five different members of the first-team squad could potentially move on.

Thomas Partey has already left as a free agent but is now set to sign a new deal in Spain.

Here are the transfer tales from in and around the Emirates to keep an eye on.

Partey new club

Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is due to join Villarreal this summer after his contract at the Emirates expired, leaving him free to seek pastures new.

Partey was keen to remain in the Champions League and that was a major factor in him choosing Villarreal, who finished fifth in Spain last term. The midfielder had been linked with moves to clubs in Europe and the Middle East throughout the season.

The Athletic reported that the ex-Atletico man was in talks over staying at the Emirates but an agreement could not be reached on the terms of a deal despite the two parties trying until late in the day.

Five sales

Mikel Arteta could bid farewell to five of his squad before the close of the transfer window, according to the Daily Mail.

Reiss Nelson is the most likely to head off amid admiring glances from Fulham and his departure would see the Gunners’ wage bill trimmed by £100,000 per week.

Oleksandr Zinchenko, who earns £150,000, is also for sale, while Fabio Vieira is far down the pecking order but has garnered some interest from West Ham and Albert Sambi Lokonga is another allowed to leave.

Then there is Leandro Trossard, whom Arsenal want to sign a new contract but is on a shortlist of targets at Borussia Dortmund.

Sesko concerns

Arsenal heard "alarm bells" when deciding whether to pursue a move for Benjamin Sesko earlier this summer, according to an ESPN report.

After engaging in preliminary talks with the Bundesliga outfit, Arsenal chiefs soon found that any deal for the promising forward would be too expensive for a player who has yet to realise his full potential.

The story reported that there were three main reasons for a deal for Sesko setting off "alarm bells" including the mammoth fee Leipzig were requesting as well as his own personal terms.

Having only had two seasons in a European top-five league - where he scored 21 goals across all competitions last season - sources said the club were wary about the mental demands Sesko would have to endure of being the player leading the Arsenal attack and whether he'd be able to handle the scrutiny.