Arsenal would undoubtedly love another summer transfer window sealing big moves but unfortunately the financial reality has hit Mikel Arteta and Edu. football.london has already reported that the Gunners are unlikely to make any marquee additions over the coming months with the aim instead to raise the floor of the squad as opposed to the ceiling.
As such, the likes of Victor Osimhen, Viktor Gyokeres and Joao Neves, who have all been linked to Emirates Stadium and would command a triple-figure fee, are unlikely to join. Newcastle duo Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak are also in that category with Arsenal showing a strong interest in both.
Guimaraes has a £100million release clause active until late June with Arsenal, Manchester and Paris Saint-Germain among the clubs circling. Isak meanwhile, does not have a clear asking price although multiple reports suggest an offer in the region of £150million would be enough for Newcastle to accept.
Despite the fact both players would greatly improve Arsenal, there is no suggestion that Arsenal will activate Guimaraes’ release clause or push to sign Isak. Following on from a £200million spend last summer, it is abundantly clear that Arsenal cannot fork out similar funds in order to keep complying with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Arteta has already made as such very clear with his recent admission on new signings. “[We] look again,” Arteta told CNN when asked about transfers. “All the margins, squad-wise, the process that we have at the football club, our methodology, especially on how we can make our players better, more competitive, more consistent and cause them to raise the level and be better than the previous season
“I think our focus has to be with what we have already in house. How can we be better? There are margins and there are players that can still develop and be better and that’s the objective that we have.
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“Every decision we’re going to make is to be better, without losing who we are and everything that is taking us in the position that we are now as a football club, as a team. The ambition is there. The players, the staff. You can sense it. They want much more. They want to start lifting trophies and that’s the next step.”
Arteta’s transfer hint is as brutal as it gets with it entirely possible no new additions are made. However, more affordable targets are certainly out there RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko one of those hugely of interest to Arsenal.
Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United have also made enquiries over the Slovenia international, who has a £55million release clause in his contract, with the German club keen to keep him having submitted a new contract proposal to the player and his representatives.