It's a busy time at Arsenal right now. The Gunners are very much in the hunt for the final Champions League place in what looks set to be a straight showdown between themselves and fierce local rivals Tottenham Hotspur. That hasn't stopped fans from looking to the summer though.
When asked about potential transfers Mikel Arteta revealed that he is expecting there to be plenty of activity should his side qualify for European competition. “Both competitions [the Champions League and Europa League] require a much larger squad because the number of games you play is much bigger, so I don’t think it makes a lot of difference [which competition Arsenal qualify for],” the Spaniard said. “If you can afford it, and we don’t have to do the turnaround in the squad that we’ve had to do, if you ask me what I want it’s 22 outfield players and three goalkeepers.”
Plenty are expected to leave the Emirates this summer. Eddie Nketiah has started the last three matches against Southampton, Chelsea and Manchester United, notching up two goals in the process and appears to have made the centre forward spot his own. However, there is still doubt over his future. The 22-year-old's contract expires at the end of the season, and teams like Crystal Palace and Borussia Monchengladbach are both reported to have shown interest in becoming his next club.
READ MORE: Why Mikel Arteta wants Gabriel Jesus transfer as Arsenal set price tag for Man City striker
The previous incumbent of Nketiah's centre forward starting spot, Alexandre Lacazette, is also out of contract in the summer. He has attracted interest from Lyon among several other clubs, and while Arsenal haven't fully closed the door on him staying, that outcome now looks unlikely.
Meanwhile there is also uncertainty over the future of Mohamed Elneny. The Egyptian had only started once in the Premier League before coming in for the 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge, but with two impressive displays in a row there are now calls for him to get a new deal. His current contract expires in the summer, but Elneny has stated that he would be willing to sign if Arsenal offered him fresh terms.
With all those potential exits in mind there is likely to be a few arrivals too. football.london understands that Edu has received the go ahead from Stan and Josh Kroenke for his summer transfer plans, meaning we could expect a big summer.
The deals have already begun with Arsenal having secured a £7 million move to sign Matt Turner from New England Revolution. The USMNT keeper will replace Bernd Leno who is expected to leave, but he has already stated that he's not coming to north London to simply play back up to Aaron Ramsdale.
"When I first started, it was trying to become a professional soccer player," Turner said earlier this year. "Most teams said no. I came in and I was a No. 3, I was a two. When I got my first chance with the national team it was only as the number three. No one ever really took me seriously, so I'm not going over there just to collect a cheque and ride off into the sunset. I'm going to push myself and [Ramsdale] and continue to help him get better and help myself get better."
If he does claim a starting spot, then Turner could have a few new players in front of him in the back line. William Saliba is not necessarily 'new' per se, although he is still yet to make his competitive senior debut for Arsenal since joining from St. Etienne in 2019.
It's unclear as of yet whether that will ever happen. football.london understands that the player is set to return in the summer for talks over his future, and at time of writing reports have suggested there is still no inclination over what the Gunners want to do with him when his loan with Marseille comes to an end.
Should the 21-year-old come back though he will be targeting Ben White's starting spot in the Arsenal line up. Given how well the England international has done since his arrival from Brighton last summer, that would not be easy, but as one of the most highly rated young centre backs in Europe, Saliba will fancy his chances.
To the right of him could be new signing too. Takehiro Tomiyasu has impressed since his deadline arrival from Bologna, but the Japanese international has ended up missing nearly half of the campaign due to a spate of calf injuries. If Arsenal want to manage him a bit more carefully next season then they may consider a move to help share the minutes around the squad a bit more.
Both Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are likely to leave permanently when their respective loan spells at Real Betis and Roma end, which could open up a space in the squad for a new right back. Udinese's Nahuel Molina has been linked in recent days and could cost around £25 million. Arsenal do have an upper hand in the race for the Argentinian in how well Pablo Mari has played during his loan spell at the Serie A side in the second half of this season, although football.london understands no agreement has been made over whether he will move their permanently come the summer as of yet.
With Elneny's potential departure and Granit Xhaka also being linked with a potential move to Roma for the second summer in a row, Arsenal may also need to recruit in midfield. The idea of signing Frenkie de Jong to fill that void may seem a bit pie in the sky thinking, and while it's definitely unlikely, the price tag he's reportedly available for could make the deal more palatable.
El Chiringuito have reported that Barcelona would be willing to accept around £58 million for the Dutch international. KSE have shown that they're not afraid to spend the big bucks in past transfer windows and Arsenal's good relationship with La Blaugrana thanks to the transfer of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, could be a clinching factor in any potential move.
Finally the Gunners are expected to strengthen in the attacking areas. As previously stated Lacazette and Nketiah are likely to leave meaning that a striker will almost definitely come in.
football.london understands that talks have been held with Gabriel Jesus' representatives going back to November. Edu has struck up a good relationship with his agent and considering that the 25-year-old has just one year left on his contract he could be available for a bargain £35 million this summer.
It is unlikely that one striker will be enough for Arsenal though given that they will be losing two. While Arteta has previously suggested that Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe could both play up top, and Folarin Balogun is an exciting prospect, you would still expect the Gunners to do more business considering that they will likely have a European competition to contend with next season as well.
football.london understands that Tammy Abraham is a profile being considered by the Gunners hierarchy as someone who could be a useful addition to the squad. Given that Jesus has spent much of this season playing on the wing for Manchester City it's easy to see how the two could play together. Abraham is understood to be worth slightly north of £65 million, as this is the value of the buy-back clause that Chelsea inserted in to his move to Roma last summer.
Possible Arsenal line up next for 2021/22 - Turner; Molina, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, De Jong, Odegaard; Saka, Abraham, Jesus.
