Arsenal’s summer clearout is set to continue with as many as eight players potentially being moved on as manager Mikel Arteta continues his quest to improve the Gunners squad. Granit Xhaka looks likely to be on his way to Bayer Leverkusen, while Newcastle United are interested in signing Kieran Tierney. Additionally, Rob Holding, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Folarin Balogun, and Emile Smith Rowe are also set to be up for grabs, with Reiss Nelson available on a free transfer.
However, the most high-profile departure could be Thomas Partey, whose form has dropped significantly after a flying start to the season. Partey was hailed as a brilliant signing when he joined Arsenal, however recent performances have been disappointing. Partey could be among eight players who may be shown the door this summer. It is claimed that two unnamed clubs in Serie A are interested in signing the Ghanaian.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in Manchester City star Julian Alvarez and Juvententus’ Adrien Rabiot. Alvarez is a key player for City, who are on course for a historic treble this season. Rabiot is a more viable option for Bayern as he looks set to leave Juventus at the end of his contract. However, the Bundesliga side will face stiff competition for his signature, perhaps from Manchester City themselves.
In other news, Sky Sports reported that Manchester United’s academy director Nick Cox recently labelled Brighton’s Evan Ferguson a “£50m-plus mistake” after the club failed to secure him on youth terms. Brighton reportedly believes that if Ferguson continues his trajectory, he can turn into a £100m player, a view echoed by at least two European sporting directors. Rather than remedying the mistake now, Manchester United are reportedly waiting until next year to make a move, presumably with his price tag to rise closer to that £100m mark.
This summer’s transfer market is poised to be a busy one, with clubs eager to secure their top targets. Mikel Arteta and director Edu are looking to add top-quality players to the Arsenal squad, even as they prepare to move on from some of last season’s underperformers. Bayern are also looking to bolster their squad, albeit with more modest targets than Arsenal. Meanwhile, Manchester United is set to make a move for a new player, albeit one that they have known about for a while now. It remains to be seen who will come out on top in this year’s transfer market, but one thing is for sure: there will be no shortage of drama and intrigue as clubs battle to strengthen their squads.
