Your morning Arsenal transfer roundup on Friday, June 30.
Arsenal close in on Jurrien Timber transfer as Edu reaches £40m agreement with Ajax
Arsenal have agreed an initial €42million (£36million) transfer fee to sign Ajax defender Jurrien Timber. The deal could rise to €47million (£40million) if additional add-ons are met, according to De Telegraaf.
football.london understands that the Gunners are keen to bolster their options at the back, with Mikel Arteta interested in Timber. Arsenal had an opening bid of £30million rejected by the Eredivisie giants last week but were expected to return with an improved proposal and are continuing with positive talks.
The report states that the Gunners have now reached a verbal agreement on a fee with Ajax, having already tied up personal terms on a 'lucrative' contract with Timber this week. All that remains before a transfer can be completed is a medical and paperwork.
Bayern Munich were among the clubs interested in signing Timber this summer, but it now seems the player will complete a move to the Emirates Stadium if he passes a medical. The talented youngster is said to have agreed to a deal that will earn him €8million (£6.9million) - double his current salary.
READ MORE: Arsenal tipped to complete six transfers including blockbuster Man City and PSV deals
Declan Rice given 'green light' for Arsenal medical as details emerge on huge £105m transfer
Declan Rice has been given permission to complete a medical with Arsenal ahead of a huge transfer from West Ham this summer. That's according to talkSPORT, which claims that the midfielder has been given the green light from the Hammers to undergo tests to get a deal done swiftly.
It comes after a saga that has spanned months and many bids, but one that appears to have seen the Gunners come out on top, barring any late drama. Rice was believed to have made a move to the Emirates his priority this summer, while football.london understood that Arsenal viewed the midfielder as a top priority.
The north London outfit were keen to avoid a bidding war, placing an early first bid worth £80million following West Ham's European success. That was rejected before another offer worth a total of £90million was also turned down, with Manchester City starting to lurk in the background.
Pep Guardiola's side, off the back of a famous treble but the loss of a key player in Ilkay Gundogan, firmed up their interest by making a formal bid. That offer was also turned down, however the price was edging towards the £100million mark widely claimed to be the valuation, meaning one team had to blink first.
Arsenal handed major Romeo Lavia transfer blow as Liverpool and Chelsea lead £40m race
Arsenal have lost ground in the race to sign Southampton star Romeo Lavia in the summer transfer window. The Belgian midfielder has been tipped to leave the Saints following their relegation from the Premier League.
Southampton boss Russell Martin has stated that some players will leave the Saints this summer - which may include Lavia. Martin told reporters: "There will be people leaving, of course, it's what happens when you have such a tough season last season and you move down from the Premier League.
"I've also been there and it’s not that easy. Every player in the dressing room could think they're going back to the Premier League, but it's not that easy."
It now seems that Liverpool lead the race for the 19-year-old talent, along with Chelsea, with the Gunners falling behind in the race for Lavia's signature. A report from Football Transfers, via 90min, has stated that Arteta's side are behind their Premier League rivals as competition for the Belgian midfielder heats up.
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