Hello and welcome to football.london’s Arsenal transfer news live blog this weekend. Over halfway through the ten-day first window of this summer, the Gunners are starting to make moves in the market.
Thursday saw Nuno Tavares join Lazio on a permanent transfer after spending last season on loan at the Serie A side. Then on Friday, the club announced that Gabriel Magalhaes has signed a new contract while also confirming they have reached a mutual agreement with Jorginho to end his contract and become a free agent.
Arsenal have yet to make a signing, but football.london understands the Gunners are pressing ahead with a deal to sign Benjamin Sesko. The centre-forward position is a priority, and Alexander Isak is the club’s dream option. However, any move quickly became impossible with Newcastle United qualifying for the Champions League, and the club now appear to have unanimously decided Sesko is the correct choice over Viktor Gyokeres.
The Gunners are also closing in on an agreement to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea, as football.london understands that Arsenal are to activate a £5million release clause in the goalkeeper’s contract. A deal to sign Martin Zubimendi equally appears to be at an advanced stage, with the Spain international closing in on a move to the club
The PA news agency claims the former Arsenal player has agreed a deal to join the Mexican club. It is said both parties with complete the formalities of the move over the coming weeks.
Pumas head coach Efrain Juarez and Ramsey share the management company AVID Sports & Entertainment Group. The former, who previously played for Celtic, took charge at his boyhood club in March
Diario AS claims Arsenal are offering the player an annual salary of around £8million (€10million), which would work out at roughly £160,000 per week. Madrid, though, are allegedly only willing to propose €6-7million for next season, albeit with the potential for that to increase over the length of his contract.
It is said in no uncertain terms that any offer will not match Arsenal’s financially. Zubimendi, therefore, would have to forego future earnings if he wants a move to Madrid.
CaughtOffside claims Aston Villa are also pursuing the player who was previously known as Samu Omorodion. He announced in November last year that he wanted to be referred to by his maternal surname rather than his paternal one in honour of his mother.
West Ham United are another Premier League club credited with an interest in the Spain international. There is a reported €100million (£84million) release clause in the player’s contract, but the Portuguese club reputedly want €70-75 million (£59-63million).
Diario AS claims Madrid consider the player’s €60million (£51million) release clause too high. Xabi Alonso reputedly wants the Spain international amid claims the club has concluded none of the alternatives, such as Angelo Stiller, are better.
Zubimendi has allegedly put a move to Arsenal on hold to wait for Madrid, for whom he is said to be attracted to joining, while reputedly favouring a stay in Spain. They purportedly plan to avoid paying the midfielder’s release clause by offering Real Sociedad players on loan to lower the fee they pay
Ray Parlour has warned Kepa Arrizabalaga that the goalkeeper will regret being happy to sit on the bench at Arsenal once he retires.
Following on from earlier, football.london understands reports of an imminent deal for Arsenal to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to be accurate.
The 30-year-old has a £5m release clause having signed a contract extension with the Blues last summer before going out on loan to Bournemouth. This was so they would not lose him for free and so that he would take a pay cut.
Arsenal are pressing ahead with a deal to sign Benjamin Sesko, football.london understands. Vital talks took place at Arsenal last week as Andrea Berta, Mikel Arteta and the club hierarchy met after the conclusion of the season.
There are several areas where the club would like to reinforce but the centre-forward position is considered a priority. Alexander Isak is thought to be the club’s dream option but with Newcastle qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, any move quickly became impossible.
The two names which have been thoroughly considered are Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko. Both have been scouted thoroughly by the club for well over a year and both players were even considered as possible additions before the summer of 2024, football.london has been told, but Sesko then and clearly now has always been the front runner.
Arsenal are set to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea, as per The Athletic. A deal is in process of being finalised after the 30-year-old agreed to join the Gunners and fight for his place.
The former Real Madrid and Bournemouth goalkeeper has a £5million release clause in his Chelsea contract that will need activating.
Nico Williams is reportedly very reluctant to move abroad despite Arsenal and Chelsea reputedly being willing to pay the player’s circa €60million (£51million) release clause.
SPORT claims they do not have the player’s approval despite his entourage listening to offers from the Premier League. Instead, he plans to sign a new contract with Athletic Club to stay in Bilbao.
Negotiations over an extension are said to be underway this summer. The most important part of those talks is said to be raising the player’s release clause, but reputedly not by much, if at all, as not to block a future transfer.
