Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu will be making plans for what is shaping up to be yet another busy summer of transfer activity with plenty of incomings, as well as outgoings, expected.
Currently well placed to seal a return to the Champions League after a six-year absence, the Gunners could be back at Europe's top table next season as Premier League champions - for the first time in almost two decades - but they have a tough task of fending off Manchester City's challenge in the run-in.
Regardless of whether or not Arsenal manage to win English football's biggest prize, based on their performances against Sporting CP in the Europa League round of 16 ties, it's evident that Arteta will need to improve the quality beyond his strongest XI in order to compete both domestically and in Europe next season.
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With Arsenal spending just over £150 million in total across both transfer windows this season, it remains to be seen what the budget will be in a couple of months' time. Although, one way for Arteta to generate extra funds is by cashing in on those first-team players he deems surplus to requirements and this is where this season's loan army can prove useful.
Now there is already one deal already in place as Pablo Mari's move to Monza will be made permanent for £5.9m as the Serie A outfit are almost certain to avoid relegation. Meanwhile, Nicolas Pepe is one of several loanees that can command a fee at the end of the season, assuming he has no long-term future under the Spaniard.
Of course, a decision has to be made regarding Folarin Balogun. After impressing for Reims in Ligue 1 - battling Kylian Mbappe for the top scorer award - he is set to return to his parent club to find himself behind Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard in the pecking order.
And amid reports that Arsenal want to sign Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund, they can perhaps fund a £40million deal by cashing on Balogun who, realistically, should command a decent transfer fee. However, there's an argument that the 21-year-old deserves a chance under Arteta.
As for the rest of the 26 Arsenal players - first-team and academy prospects included - out on loan, some may look to use the summer window as an opportunity to leave north London for pastures new but there are others who can be kept on by Arteta to help the club save millions of pounds, particularly in the full-back department.
Amid reports linking Kieran Tierney with an exit, the Gunners would have to move for a replacement to provide Oleksandr Zinchenko with cover and competition at left-back. Now, one option is switching Takehiro Tomiyasu over from the opposite flank and promoting Brooke Norton-Cuffy as Benjamin White's back-up instead of signing Ivan Fresenda.
However, Tomiyasu's injury might change everything. Not due back until pre-season after undergoing groin surgery, could this open the door for Ainsley Maitland-Niles? It does seem unlikely at this point, but the fact he can operate on either side and is perhaps capable of emulating what Zinchenko does might just give Arteta something to ponder.
In midfield, football.london understands Arsenal are interested in signing Declan Rice from West Ham United. With that said, links to Brighton's Moises Caicedo remain and it was even reported over the weekend that the club are also tracking Southampton's Romeo Lavia.
Given the sheer depth in the engine room at Arteta's disposal, the addition of another midfielder doesn't seem likely unless there's a surprise departure this summer. Even if that is the case, Charlie Patino can save the club some pennies after impressing as both a deep-lying midfielder and in an advanced role for Blackpool this season.
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