The summer transfer window has officially been open for well over 24 hours now and Arsenal continue to be linked with reinforcements in several key areas.
Despite no confirmation on any new signings just yet, the Gunners have already secured a deal - understood to be in the region of £7m - for USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner, are close to completing a move for Sao Paulo youngster Marquinhos, have offered Eddie Nketiah a new contract and signed up Mohamed Elneny for another season at least.
Meanwhile, in terms of confirmed departures, Arsenal announced their release list on Friday and it included Alexandre Lacazette as well as academy prospects Jonathan Dinzeyi, Joel Lopez and Jordan McEneff as they will all officially leave the club when their contracts expire on June 30.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta's non-negotiable at Arsenal makes Gabriel Jesus transfer decision even easier
With last season still somewhat fresh in the minds, the north London outfit have been extremely busy in the transfer window since, but it would appear manager Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu are only just getting started as plenty more incomings, outgoings and contract talks are expected before deadline day on August 31.
"We want to take the club to the next level," the Spaniard said in his press conference ahead of the final game of the season against Everton. "That's the ambition. In order to do that we have a very clear plan again, how we want to do it and execute it, and there are no secrets. We need resources and we need to increase the quality and the depth of the squad."
For the Gunners to reach the next level, it's quite clear where they must strengthen. As things currently stand, the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Lacazette leave Nketiah - provided he signs a new contract - and Folarin Balogun as the senior central strikers when pre-season training starts on June 27.
Now, football.london understands that Edu is working on a deal to bring Gabriel Jesus to the Emirates, while Gianluca Scamacca and Tammy Abraham continue to be linked as signing a centre-forward is clearly a priority for Arsenal after being outscored by five of the top eight in the Premier League table last season.
Furthermore, talk of recruiting a wide forward is a hot topic amid links to Everton's Richarlison, Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry and PSV Eindhoven captain Cody Gakpo. Whilst the Telegraph are reporting that Arsenal are among the clubs who are considering a move for Leeds United winger Raphinha.
It's not just the attacking areas that the Gunners must address as improving the midfield should be high on Arteta's list and a move for Leicester City's Youri Tielemans looks likely as the Belgian international could be available for as little as £25m due to having a year left on his contract at the King Power Stadium.
Other names being tipped to bolster Arsenal's midfield options include Fabian Ruiz, Yves Bissouma and Oleksandr Zinchenko - although The Athletic claim the versatile Ukraine international is not a major priority for the club at the moment. Finally, in defence the club are hopeful of completing an £18m deal for Bologna full-back Aaron Hickey.
However, of the 12 players mentioned, the Gunners can only complete deals for those playing in England. This is because whilst the summer transfer window officially opened on Friday (June 10) only signings made from Premier League, EFL and Scottish teams can be registered right now.
Therefore, if Arsenal, for example, were to agree a deal for Raphinha they would be in a position to register him immediately and the same applies to potential deals for Gabriel Jesus, Richarlison, Tielemans, Bissouma and Zinchenko as they all ply their trade in the top flight of English football.
But if deals for players from the French, Italian, German or Spanish leagues such as Abraham, Fabian, Hickey and Gnabry are secured before the end of the month, those moves can be agreed in principle but can't be officially completed until July 1 when the international transfer window opens.
