Arsenal has reportedly made significant progress in the transfer market, securing agreements for their first two signings of the summer, while talks continue for two additional players.
This activity comes in the wake of their Champions League elimination at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, where a 3-1 aggregate defeat brought their season to an end. In the aftermath, manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the challenges his squad faced, particularly with the long-term injuries to key forwards Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
Although Arteta stopped short of confirming new arrivals, he admitted that a lack of attacking options affected the team’s performance and noted that exceptional displays are required to succeed in major competitions.
Reports indicate Arsenal has finalized a deal for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, with the Spanish club expected to accept a €20 million offer. In addition, any fears that Real Madrid might intervene in the pursuit of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi have reportedly been dismissed. TEAMtalk and other sources suggest that Madrid has withdrawn their interest, clearing the way for Arsenal to secure Zubimendi’s services.
Trusted journalist Sami Mokbel had previously claimed the move was practically complete, while David Ornstein of The Athletic confirmed recently that Arsenal is proceeding internally as if the transfer is a done deal.
With these two targets — a goalkeeper and a defensive midfielder — close to joining, Arsenal has turned attention to strengthening other areas.
Talks are ongoing for a new central defender and a wide forward. New sporting director Andrea Berta is said to be leading discussions for Valencia center-back Cristhian Mosquera, with concerns lingering over the fitness and future of several current defenders.
Simultaneously, negotiations are underway for young wide attacker Jamie Bynoe-Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, although his deal appears more uncertain due to his limited game time under manager Niko Kovac.
According to FourFourTwo, Mosquera’s signing seems more achievable at this stage than Bynoe-Gittens. The financial implications of activating Zubimendi’s £51 million release clause also remain a point of discussion, though it’s possible the fee could be spread over several years.
Should all four targets be secured, Arsenal’s total summer outlay could fall between £125 million and £140 million. It remains unclear how much transfer budget would remain after these moves.
While a high-profile signing like Alexander Isak might still be attainable without selling a key player, Arsenal would need to carefully navigate Profit and Sustainability Rules, possibly turning to a more affordable option like Viktor Gyokeres, reportedly valued at £50 million.
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