Arsenal aiming for two signings before transfer deadline
Arsenal would like to sign a defender and an attacker before the transfer window closes on September 1, according to The Athletic.
The Gunners have made two new outfield signings in Christos Tzolis and Bruno Guimaraes this summer.
Both of them made their competitive debuts against Manchester City in the Community Shield, and Tzolis was sublime with two assists.
Arsenal are not done yet in the transfer market, and The Athletic claim that the Gunners would like to add two more summer signings.
The club prefer a defender who can play at both centre-back and right-back.
Ezri Konsa remains the prime target, and Arsenal hope that Aston Villa will compromise on their £60 million price tag.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah and Atletico Madrid’s Marc Pubill are also on their radar, but they seem unlikely to be available.
The Gunners would also prefer to augment their attack, and the focus remains on the left wing.
However, there is some flexibility around this if the right forward becomes available.
Atletico’s Julian Alvarez and Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz are among long-term targets.
Arsenal are waiting to see whether either becomes available in the transfer market.
Arsenal could pursue deals for Konsa and Alvarez
The Gunners have a big void in the heart of the defence with William Saliba ruled out for an ‘extended period‘ with a back injury sustained while playing for France at the World Cup.
The Frenchman’s absence means Cristhian Mosquera is the immediate replacement, given he is right-footed and predominantly operates from the right side of the central defence.
However, Arsenal are lacking another reliable competitor. 16-year-old Marli Salmon impressed in pre-season, but manager Mikel Arteta does not seem prepared to trust him in the league yet.
Jurrien Timber can slot in, but the Dutchman is also on the sidelines with a nagging groin issue. Arsenal genuinely need an experienced solution before the transfer window closes.
Konsa could be the perfect answer. The Englishman is a quality ball-playing centre-back who can also comfortably play at right-back. He had a passing accuracy of 95 percent in the top-flight for Villa last term, while winning almost 70 percent of his duels.
Arsenal are only willing to pay around £40m for Konsa, £20m shy of the asking price. The Midlands outfit are highly unlikely to negotiate with less than two weeks left before the window closes.
The onus is on the Gunners to make a significantly higher bid. With the inflated transfer deals this summer, Arsenal may have to spend £50m upfront, plus £5m in add-ons, to land Konsa.
It is a huge package for someone turning 29 in October, but the club would stand to benefit from his services as they need more depth in the right centre-back position in Saliba’s extended absence.
Meanwhile, Yildiz could be out of the Gunners’ reach with Juventus determined to keep him. The club’s majority shareholder John Elkann personally intervened to block his exit earlier this summer.
Alvarez, on the other hand, could yet depart. He has been pushing for a move to Barcelona, but Atletico appear adamant that he won’t join them after accusing them of tapping up the Argentine.
With PSG having just spent on Ferran Torres, Mika Godts and Maghnes Akliouche, Arsenal could well emerge as the most likely destination for Alvarez before the transfer window formally closes.
Manager Mikel Arteta has personally spoken with Alvarez for a second time, and a deal could be done before the deadline. Real Madrid recently made a £129m bid, which Atletico rejected because of the obvious rivalry. It may take a similar fee to prise him away.
If Arsenal succeed in landing Alvarez, it could raise questions about Viktor Gyokeres’ future, given the Argentine is primarily a striker who can occasionally play out wide. The Sweden international has emerged as a possible target for Barcelona to replace Torres, who left for PSG.
Stats from Sofascore.com
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