Over the next couple of days Arsenal expect to confirm the signings of both Ben White and Albert Sambi Lokonga (by the time this is published the club would probably have announced at least one of them).
Those two signings will join Nuno Tavares and take our summer spending to close to £80million.
So what else can we expect to happen in the transfer window?
Well we have already seen both Matteo Guendouzi and William Saliba leave to Marseille on loan – with the former set to join the French outfit permanently next summer.
With Arsenal still suffering from a bloated squad, there will be more departures in the coming weeks.
Expect Granit Xhaka to Roma to be completed as he returns from holiday following the Euro’s.
As soon as his departure is confirmed, expect Edu to move quickly for a senior central midfield replacement (there are plenty of names out there). That will complete our midfield signings for the summer with the new midfielder coming in alongside Thomas Partey, Lokonga and Mo Elneny.
Also expect a flurry of Hale End departures.
Last week Reiss Nelson was linked with a handful of clubs – Brighton, Crystal Palace, West Ham.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Nelson leave to one of these clubs on loan with an obligation to sign clause for next summer.
A similar deal will probably also happen with Eddie Nketiah.
Nketiah has not really “made it” at Arsenal and with Gabriel Martinelli and Folrian Balogun chomping at the bit, the time is now to sell the senior player and give his match time to those younger lads.
Making it a trio of Hale End boys that will likely leave on loan with an obligation to buy is Joe Willock.
Talk on the Tyne is the Newcastle are close to a deal that would see Willock return on loan for the season with a £17million deal completed next summer.
We will see a lot of these “loan with an obligation to buy” deals this summer as teams do not have the finances due to Covid19.
They kick the debt into 12 months time whilst the selling club can access the funds by selling the transfer fee on to a factoring company.
Arsenal would probably expect to raise around £50m loaning out Willock, Nelson and Nketiah with obligations to buy.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is the final Hale End lad on borrowed time.
He was not as impressive as Willock whilst out on loan but will still have plenty of suiters. Expect him to also leave.
Once some of these deals are done over the next 10 days, the focus will return to incoming players.
The central midfield replacement for Xhaka will be followed by some extra creative midfield options.
I still would not be surprised if Arsenal signed both Houssem Auoar and James Maddison.
All that will leave unresolved is Hector Bellerin’s future (where we will sign a like for like replacement) and a decision on whether to keep Alexander Lacazette.
The transfer window does not shut until 31st August. The next two weeks will all be about departures.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 