Arsenal news and transfers recap: £100m Rice deal, Mbappe move, Saliba contract

The summer transfer window is only days away now and for Arsenal, it could be a huge few months to help strengthen the squad for the upcoming season. A move for Declan Rice looks set to escalate in the coming week as the Gunners continue to be linked with a bid for the West Ham captain.

That's not the only potential move on the cards though as the likes of Timothy Castagne and Ilkay Gundogan are the latest names on the radar, while contract agreements for William Saliba and Reiss Nelson come as a huge boost. There could also be some exits as Kieran Tierney, Folarin Balogun and Nicolas Pepe have all been linked with a move.

With that said, keep the blog on lock as we bring you all the latest Arsenal news.

Kylian Mbappe could be set to leave PSG this summer as reports claim that the forward won't activate his extension on his contract. The French club have no interest in letting him leave on a free, with one-year left on his deal.

Arsenal are said to be close to agreeing a deal worth over £100million for Declan Rice.

The Guardian state that if all add-ons are achieved, the deal would pass the British record fee paid by Manchester City for Jack Grealish.

While no official bid has been made yet, it is said that there is confidence a deal will be agreed soon.

Arsenal and Tottenham transfer target James Maddison is believed to have made Newcastle his preferred destination, according to reports. The Leicester City star looks set to leave the Foxes in the coming weeks, following their relegation to the Championship.

Martin Zubimendi has publicly snubbed a potential move to Barcelona this summer, amid links with a transfer to Arsenal. “Inheriting Asier Illarramendi’s No.4 motivates me more than Sergio Busquets’ No.5,” he told El Diario Vasco in an interview, referencing his midfield partner Illarramendi when asked about replacing Busquets.

Arsenal and Chelsea are pushing to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton this summer, according to reports. The Brighton star has been heavily linked with both clubs ahead of a potential £80million move in the coming weeks.

Arsenal are stepping up their interest in Leicester City full-back Timothy Castagne, according to reports. However, the Gunners have other priorities at this stage in time.

Mikel Arteta has been handed a boost as he gears up for this crucial period of the season with positive injury news on four of his first-team stars. Gabriel Martinelli, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mohamed Elneny and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all set to be involved in Arsenal's preseason campaign football.london understands.

Arsenal defender William Saliba has snubbed a potential move to Manchester United or Bayern Munich this summer to stay with the club. That's according to RMC Sport, which reports that the youngster is set to agree a new deal with the Gunners for the future.

Manchester United value winger Jadon Sancho at £60million this summer, according to a report from Sky Sports. The England international has previously been linked with a move to Arsenal and Tottenham, though his switch to United has been a tough one so far.

Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale may have hinted at a potential move for Declan Rice in the summer transfer window. The shot-stopper met up with the West Ham captain at the England international camp, posting on social media specifically about his teammate.

Dinamo Zagreb centre-back Josip Sutalo has been speaking out about his future amid reports linking him with a transfer to Arsenal.

“Arsenal? I don’t read anything,” Sutalo told SportKlub.

“When the time comes for the transfer, we will talk about it.”

Saint-Etienne’s former academy director Philippe Guillemet has claimed that there were previously some doubts between William Saliba and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

Speaking to The Athletic, Guillemet said: "He loved Marseille. It was a fantastic year.

"Speaking to people close to him, he had doubts about Arsenal because there were some issues between him and the coach. Now he is happy in London.”

Declan Rice has claimed he wants to stay with West Ham United.

A viral video has done the rounds of the 24-year-old downplaying talk of a summer move from David Moyes' side.

When asked by a young supporter where he would like to go, the England international: "Nowhere, I'm West Ham."

"I don't, West Ham is my one," he replied when quizzed again. The video was posted by TikTok user Virajplays4, who claims that the clip was filmed on Saturday.

As per Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona want €40million (£34million) for attacker Ferran Torres.

Arsenal have previously been linked with a summer move for Torres.

Rormer Newcastle and Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has claimed that Kieran Tierney wouldn't start for the Magpies if he left Arsenal for Eddie Howe's side this summer.

“Dan Burn has played very well at left-back”, Hamann told Casinos En Ligne.

“If Kieran Tierney was to go to Newcastle United because he’s a part-time player at Arsenal, would it be any different at Newcastle?

“The defence and back four have been sensational this season. I can understand why Eddie Howe would want him because he’s a very good player to have in your squad, but it remains to be seen if he’s happy to stay as second choice, behind Burn.

"Burn is doing a fantastic job at left-back, especially for someone of his height. You have to have him in the team because he guarantees goals and defending in set pieces, it would be mighty tough for Tierney to get in the team.”

According to Turkish transfer guru Yagız Sabuncuoglu, Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson wants to join a Premier League club this summer.

The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in recent times.

According to Basque outlet Bilbao Hiria, Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams is edging towards leaving the La Liga club.

It is claimed that both Aston Villa and Arsenal are interested in signing Williams, who is said to have a €50million (£43million) release clause.

Arsenal transfer guru Charles Watts has admitted he is positive that the Gunners can accelerate a deal to sign West Ham United captain Declan Rice this week.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Watts said: "This is going to be a big, big week for Arsena.

“I would be very surprised, if I am sitting here next Sunday, and things with Declan Rice have not moved on pretty dramatically.

“This is a deal Arsenal have been working on for a long time. They want to get it done. And they want to get it done relatively quickly, if they can.

“I would say that I am pretty positive we will see things progressing, one way or the other, in the space of the next days or so, if not before that.

“It’s a really big week for Arsenal. This is the one they want. If you can get Declan Rice done quickly, and avoid getting dragged into a saga that drags on throughout the summer, then it would just be so beneficial for everyone. Having Declan Rice on board, before pre-season begins, would just be huge, for him, for everyone and for the club.”

Montpellier president Laurent Nicollin has admitted that Elye Wahi likes Arsenal amid talk of a potential transfer for the young striker.

Speaking about Wahi to 100% Paillade, Nicollin said: “His agent talks with 4-5 big clubs, I know them but I won’t tell you."

He added: "We know he likes Arsenal a lot.”

Arsenal academy manager Per Mertesacker has claimed that the north London outfit are in a good position to sign Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.

Mertesacker said on German TV station ZDF that City's recent treble win could convince Gundogan "to say, okay, mission accomplished."

He added: "I think the clubs are queuing.

"Because Arteta knows him and we probably haven’t broken off contact, we’re in a good position. I think he’ll let it all sink in first and then choose from one of the four clubs."

Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson will sign a new contract this week, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

Writing on Twitter, Romano said: "Arsenal expect Reiss Nelson to sign new long term deal this week. Agreement in principle reached on four year contract with option for further season.

"(White Emoji) (Red emoji) #AFC He received bids from Italian, French and also English clubs."

Emile Smith Rowe won't be used as a makeweight in any deal for Arsenal to sign Declan Rice, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

“Arsenal want to submit a proposal for Declan Rice,” Romano told Caught Offside.

“We’ll see for sure when the offer is made, it’s hard to predict the day for now.

“Smith Rowe, however, is part of Arsenal’s plans for the future, they don’t want to let him go.”

West Ham captain Declan Rice has told the London club his next destination this summer transfer window, according to recent reports. The midfielder seems set to leave the Hammers in the coming weeks, with two years remaining on his contract and uncertainty surrounding his future.

Former Arsenal star Robert Pires has urged Arsenal to sign Brighton star Moises Caicedo ahead of the summer transfer window.

Arsenal have held talks with Leicester City over a potential move for full-back Timothy Castagne this summer. The Belgian international is said to be an option for the Gunners, who are looking for more cover on the flanks.