Arsenal are set for a pivotal summer transfer window to build on from the major progress made in Mikel Arteta's project during the 2022/23 season. The Gunners shocked many by storming to the top of the Premier League table and remaining there for 240 days before ultimately being pipped to the title by Manchester City.
Following a superb campaign, owner Stan Kroenke looks set to reward Arteta with a hefty transfer budget which nears £200million. On top of monetary rewards for their Premier League finish which sealed Champions League qualification, the Gunners will also receive £41.8million to help fund their major transfer plans.
Signing Declan Rice from West Ham is the priority in that plan, as football.london understands, with West Ham likely to demand a full package deal worth over £100million. As per the Telegraph, Arsenal's first official offer will be worth a club-record £92million while Bayern Munich and Manchester United are continuing to monitor his situation.
Any money garnered from sales could also prove pivotal in Edu acquiring Arteta's main targets and a number of departures could help seal his wish. Folarin Balogun and Kieran Tierney are two first-team stars expected to depart this summer in search of more minutes.
Balogun enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at Reims in Ligue 1 where he scored 21 goals which has resulted in several European clubs showing an interest. The Athletic claim that AC Milan, Inter Milan, RB Leipzig, Marseille and Monaco are all interested in the 21-year-old, with Napoli the latest team to throw their name in the hat which could incite a bidding war that drives up his asking price which currently sits at £35million.
Tierney meanwhile has interest from other Premier League teams with Aston Villa joining Newcastle in the hunt for his signature. Unai Emery wanting the Scotsman at Villa Park could see another bidding war arrive and another huge windfall opportunity has now come to light regarding Tierney in a new report from the Telegraph.
READ MORE: Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: Declan Rice goodbye, Lionel Messi move, Caicedo deal
In an article discussing Newcastle's targets, Tierney is mentioned as an option along with Arsenal's £30million asking price. While most of this is known, the interesting part arrives with regard to selling clubs demanding more money for their players from the Magpies, which has been described as “Newcastle tax”, which sees teams ask for more money from the Saudi Arabian owned clubs than other interested parties.
Every single penny obtained in sales could be key for Arsenal if they also plan to sign Moises Caicedo alongside Rice. The Brighton midfielder was the recipient of several bids in the January transfer window, but all were rejected before he went on to sign a new contract on the south coast.
According to a report from London World, a £75million bid is being prepared by Arsenal for Caicedo with the Seagulls far more likely to sell now than compared to the winter window. West Ham and Brighton are likely going to ensure they can secure the best financial deal possible for themselves which means anything Arsenal can get from exits to add onto their summer budget could end up being a huge difference-maker.
READ NEXT:
Arsenal handed transfer windfall boost as Newcastle and Aston Villa set for bidding war
Arsenal may have quietly decided on three summer transfers after completing £54m swoop
