Arsenal are making strides ahead of the summer transfer window opening for business, with a deal for Martin Zubimendi close and another for Viktor Gyokeres in the pipeline
Arsenal are braced for a busy time in the summer transfer window, with the Gunners determined to learn from their past mistakes. Mikel Arteta's side have finished second in the Premier League for the third straight campaign and want to reinforce their squad this summer.
"Josh [Kroenke] has been very clear in the direction and ambition we have," Arteta said recently. "We're going to try and see what we can do, make very subtle decisions, and respect what has taken us this far.
"There's not much improvement. We've finished second three times, reached the Champions League semi-finals. There's that little percentage we need to nail."
Those tweaks will involve the signing of a top-class striker this summer, with Viktor Gyokeres the top target, while a central midfielder is also on the way, in the form of Martin Zubimendi. Read on to see the latest on these deals.
Sporting issue Gyokeres statement
Sporting Lisbon say they are yet to receive any official offers for Viktor Gyokeres - and insist he could still stay with them this summer. Gyokeres is one of Arsenal's top targets this summer and Mirror Football understands they are confident he will join if they fork out £60million.
However, Sporting vice-president Francisco Salgado Zenha said: “He has three more years on his contract. At the moment there are no offers, he has three more years on his contract. I think the answer has been given. [Sporting’s transfer plans] won’t be any different from last year. We want to keep the best players and retain talent.
"We want to continue to be champions, have competitive teams and fight on all fronts. I have been in this role for seven years. In the years when Sporting were champions, we even made fewer sales than in other years... the fact that we are champions gives us a greater ability to retain players and talent.
“Coincidence or not, we have not had to sell any players in those times. Not that we have not received offers, but the market is not under our control, we are always dependent.”
Zubimendi set for medical
Martin Zubimendi will soon be an Arsenal player after the club reached a full agreement with Real Sociedad over his transfer. The Gunners will pay his full release clause of £51m to sign the Spain international midfielder as soon as the window opens.
The 26-year-old, who snubbed Liverpool in the summer, will become Arsenal's first signing of the summer once he has completed a medical. All the relevant documents have now been completed, meaning his announcement is close. Zubimendi will bolster the midfield after Jorginho confirmed he was leaving on a free transfer for Flamengo.
Henry criticises Arteta
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has criticised the club's inability to sign a striker over the past few seasons. The Gunners have finished second for the third straight Premier League season, with injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus impacting their campaign heavily.
Henry said on the Overlap Stick to Football podcast: “When you look at the injuries and you look at the players that came, OK, he brought players – he got [Raheem] Sterling when everyone wanted a nine. He had time to get a nine, he had time.
“I’m not the coach, I don’t know how the discussion… everyone has been screaming for a nine – apart from when we win, by the way. When we beat Real Madrid, we didn’t need a nine. No, you do need a nine.”