Arsenal fans can barely believe what they are seeing this summer, with Mikel Arteta operating like a man on a mission in the transfer market.
Ex-Chelsea man Kai Havertz has already been signed to the tune of £65million, while confirmation of Declan Rice's arrival is expected sometime next week. If the deal goes through for the West Ham captain, it will ensure Rice becomes the most expensive footballer in British history as the Gunners have forked out £105m to land his signature.
Having missed out on the title in such heartbreaking fashion last season, Arteta is clearly going hell for leather to try and ensure Arsenal go one better next term and overcome the might of reigning champions Manchester City to win their first league title in 20 years.
With that being said, here are all the transfer talking points emerging out of the Emirates on Saturday, July 1.
Balogun drops exit hint
Folarin Balogun seems to have hinted his Arsenal exit is near after posting a cryptic message to Twitter as speculation over his future continues.
The 21-year-old Gunners academy graduate enjoyed a sensational loan spell at Ligue 1 side Reims last term, which has in turn put him on the radar of some of European football's biggest clubs.
After a 21-goal haul last season, Arsenal are well aware they have a gem on their hands. However, even though Balogun has shown he finds the net with ease, the odds of consistent first-team football at the Emirates next season are low.
Therefore, the Gunners are rumoured to have placed a £35million price tag on him and told the striker he can leave if that valuation is met.
Man City chief explains walking away from Rice deal
Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has vowed that the champions will adhere to the transfer policy that saw them walk away from Rice.
City had submitted one offer for Rice, worth £90m, which the Hammers duly rejected.
Soriano said: "If you look at what we did at the start of this project, there was a need for a lot of changes and investment - but not anymore. If you look at what we have done in the last five years, our level of investment in new players is well thought out.
"We are not the top net spenders of last year or the last three or five years. We have a platform where we know what to do and we can do it with time and intelligence. When we don't like a deal, we walk away and we don't panic."
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Rice delay explained
While most things regarding Rice's move from West Ham to Arsenal are sorted, the structure of the £105m payment still needs to be agreed.
The Hammers are continuing to dig their heels in regarding Rice as they want the lump sum paid in full by early 2025, whereas the north Londoners want to stagger the payments across a five-year period, as per The Sun.
It is not expected to affect any deal but a source has maintained that “the ball is in Arsenal's court”.
Read the full story HERE.
