Arsenal’s summer recruitment drive is reaching full throttle as they prepare to defend their Premier League title with a revamped squad and they are closing in on a huge signing.
The sole senior buy for Mikel Arteta so far is Ecuador international Piero Hincapie, who sealed a £34.5million switch from Bayer Leverkusen, following an impressive loan stint last season. But with the initial batch of players scheduled to return to the Sobha Realty Training Centre next week for pre-season, business is intensifying with arrivals and departures anticipated.
Sporting director Andrea Berta seeks to maximise a reported £250m transfer kitty. A fresh left winger and central midfielder remain Arsenal’s principal objectives. The Gunners have already been connected with Bradley Barcola, Morgan Rogers, Rafael Leao, Bruno Guimaraes and Ayyoub Bouaddi – here’s all the latest news from the Emirates Stadium.
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Bruno Guimaraes makes up mind
Newcastle’s captain Bruno Guimaraes is the latest Magpies star to decide he wants to quit the North East in search of major trophies at a bigger club.
The Brazil ace has asked to leave Newcastle, having arrived from Lyon in 2022 and become a Toon hero who played a starring role in their 2025 League Cup triumph.
It’s thought the Gunners are willing to pay around £60m for the midfielder, but Newcastle are briefing that they remain determined to hold onto him.
But having already sold star men Sandro Tonali to Tottenham and Anthony Gordon to Barcelona in this transfer window, following the departure of Alexander Isak to Liverpool last summer, it’s clear the club’s best players are no longer convinced by the Saudia Arabia owner’s project.
Bradley Barcola sent Arsenal transfer instruction
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With Leandro Trossard anticipated to leave north London for Besiktas and Gabriel Martinelli managing just one league goal last season, Arsenal are actively seeking a new left-winger.
One of the most prominent names connected with a switch is Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola. The 23-year-old, representing France in the latter stages of the World Cup, is said to have informed the French giants earlier this month of his wish to depart.
Yet French legend Marcel Desailly encouraged Barcola to remain at the club. Speaking to Sportcasting, the former Chelsea defender said: “Barcola doesn’t need to leave PSG.
“He’s too young. He’s only 23-years-old. Didier Deschamps is teaching him a lesson, and he’s giving him a chance.
“He’s young – the attention and defensive alertness isn’t there to match the speed he projects when he’s going forward. He wasn’t making the effort to get back into position.
“So he’s growing, he’s learning and he’s getting that winning mentality on both sides of the game – being available for the team structurally without the ball while also being the one who makes the difference, just as the older players are doing.
“So, should he move to the Premier League? Not yet. Not yet at all. Sorry, Arsenal and Liverpool fans. He should stay at PSG, play 25 games a season and grow within that system.”
Gunners ‘agree personal terms’ with target
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Arteta’s search for a new central midfielder has received a significant boost following reports suggesting Arsenal have reached personal terms with one of Barcola’s France colleagues.
According to Italian publication Corriere della Sera, Arsenal have already conducted discussions with French midfielder Manu Kone and secured personal terms ahead of a potential transfer following the World Cup.
The 25-year-old has shone for France this summer in the absence of injured Aurelien Tchouameni and would probably require a fee around £43m from current employers Roma.
Arsenal supporters have already been offered a preview of what Kone could contribute after national team manager Deschamps heaped praise upon the former Borussia Monchengladbach star.
“I repeat, Manu Kone is underrated,” he said. “He’s coming off a very good season with Roma, and he’s becoming increasingly important for us with each training session.
“He’s very effective at winning the ball back, but he shouldn’t be limited to that role of defensive midfielder because he also makes a difference in his use of the ball.”