The deadline is fast approaching for Premier League clubs regarding Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and the likes of Chelsea, Everton and Aston Villa have been scrambling to complete incomings and outgoings – Newcastle reportedly also struggling. Arsenal have plenty of work to do in the transfer market this summer but have so far not acted and bought or sold anyone.
They will see 24 players from the men’s, women’s and youth sides leave at the end of the month, which is also the deadline for club’s accountancy years, and therefore the corresponding PSR cut-off. Arsenal are expected to make the signing of David Raya from Brentford permanent football.london understands, but the delay in that move is an indication of the timing of the deal being favoured after the June deadline.
Arsenal signed the Spaniard on loan from the Bees last summer instead of on a permanent move at the time as it was financially beneficial for them to do so after spending more than £200million on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
They were able to offset some of the expenditure with the sales of Folarin Balogun, Granit Xhaka, Matt Turner, Pablo Mari, Auston Trusty, Rob Holding and loan fees for Kieran Tierney, Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga. The club made more than £70million in total fees including add-ons which looked very good on the club’s accounting books.
Balogun’s exit in particular was ideal considering he had come through the academy meaning his sale was not offset by any initial transfer fee. This summer Arsenal have the chance to repeat the trick with the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson and potentially Emile Smith Rowe.
Whilst sales will be important this summer, it is not thought that Arsenal are under any real pressure to get sales done before the June deadline nor are they hamstrung to get any deals done before it either in regard to incomings. However, the delay in the move for Raya is perhaps telling of when both Arsenal and Brentford’s timing for a deal to be done.
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With the financial results of 2022/23, Arsenal provided a brief statement on the subject. It read: “The club continues to be compliant with applicable financial sustainability regulations put in place by UEFA and the Premier League.”
Despite this compliance, there is a feeling that it would be a surprise for Arsenal to repeat the type of deal that saw the club spend £105million on Rice. For this to change, Arsenal would need to make considerable capital in terms of sales for a whole host of stars.
That said, there is an openness to do deals and raise the quality floor of the side whilst opening the door to budding talents like Ethan Nwaneri to get more first-team chances next season. There is scrutiny surrounding the pathway of Hale End graduates and the expected exits of Amario Cozier-Duberry and Reuell Walters have only made this worse.
Regardless, football.london have been told that the club confident are confident of the squad being in a stronger position come the end of the market. There is a desire to do deals and a knowledge that the PSR deadline and the two summer tournaments will have slowed the start of much business during this particular window.
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