Arsenal are underway with their pre-season and continued their preparations for the 2022/23 campaign with a 5-3 victory over FC Nurnberg on Friday, in which new signing Gabriel Jesus bagged a brace on his debut following his £45 million switch from Manchester City.
But while Mikel Arteta and his players are working hard on the pitch, technical director Edu is working hard off it, as the Gunners continue to eye more signings. The latest reports have revealed that a bid has been ‘submitted’ for Benfica defender Grimaldo, while Arsenal are interested in bringing ex- Tottenham Hotspur man Kyle Walker-Peters back to north London.
Mirror Football takes a look at all the latest transfer stories coming out of the Emirates Stadium…
Grimaldo bid submitted
Arsenal are yet to make any defensive signings this summer but that could all be about to change following the latest reports in Portugal which have suggested that the Gunners have lodged an opening bid for Benfica star Alex Grimaldo.
As per A Bola, Arsenal have submitted a €7million (£5.9million) bid for the Spanish full-back, who could well be on his way out of Benfica this summer after a recent report from fellow Portuguese outlet Record suggested that Benfica need to save €40m (£34m) in wages ahead of the next season.
Grimaldo recorded six goals and nine assists in 47 games in all competitions last season as Benfica finished third in the Primeira Liga and reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
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Ex-Spurs defender eyed
Grimaldo isn’t the only full back that Arsenal are eyeing in the current transfer window, with a shock report revealing that the Gunners are interested in signing former Tottenham man Kyle Walker-Peters from Southampton this summer.
That’s according to The Athletic, who say that Arsenal are understood to have the England international on their list of potential targets, despite his previous links to their north London rivals, whom he left in 2020.
After impressing during a loan spell on the south coast in 2019-20, Walker-Peters made the permanent switch to St. Mary’s Stadium for a reported £12 million. However, according to the report, Spurs are said to have a £30m buy-back clause inserted into the deal.
Gunners interested in Wolfsburg defender
Arsenal are keen to strengthen their defensive options this summer and with the constant rumours surrounding Gabriel Maghaeles’ future at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners have eyed Wolfsburg’s Maxence Lacroix as a potential target to strengthen their backline.
French outlet Media Foot have claimed that Arsenal are tracking the progress of the former France Under-20 international, who emerges as the latest left-sided centre back to grab the attention of the Gunners this summer, following on from Lisandro Martinez.
The 6ft 3in 22-year-old made 36 appearances in all competitions last season for the Bundesliga side, and Arsenal could look to sign him should they successfully offload a number of fringe players from their first team squad.
