There are still two months to go until the summer transfer window opens. Plenty of football has to be played before clubs can get down to business, but having been proactive in the market last year, Arsenal are getting ahead of the game again.
The Gunners have so far reaped the reward of being on the ball with their pursuit of Declan Rice, also showing that they can react quickly for Kai Havertz. Jurrien Timber was a considered move yet to pay off due to injury, but it looks from the outside to be a value-for-money move.
Now, with Mikel Arteta looking to add more quality and depth across the board to enhance his squad ahead of what will be another year in the Champions League – and despite the title push to this stage, holes do still remain – the focus will be on their ambition again.
Complying with financial rules will be an ask for Edu Gaspar and his recruitment team. This will need some major sales regardless of prize money to come. But the eyeballs will be on incomings, and getting the group available to be even more rigid and top-class.
With that in mind, here’s the latest transfer rumours and what 360gist.com.ng thinks of them with silly season a little way off yet…
Arsenal not put off Neto
Arsenal have not yet been repelled from Wolves attacker Pedro Neto despite yet more injury problems threatening to derail his season. The Portugal winger has been a long-term target and often linked player for the Gunners and come the summer it is expected to be much of the same again.
With Reiss Nelson playing a tiny role this year, Emile Smith Rowe unable to stake his claim, and Eddie Nketiah a possible agent to recoup funds, Arsenal may well be in need of reinforcements up front. Fabrizio Romano suspects that Neto will still be a player on their radar.
“Arsenal have some wingers in their sights for the summer, but while it’s normal to see a long list of names linked with clubs in this situation, who’s really emerging as the main options on Arsenal’s list?” he said.
“Pedro Neto is a player Arsenal like and have looked at before, but we have to wait for Wolves to decide initial price tag to understand what Arsenal, Tottenham and more clubs will decide to do.”
360gist.com.ng says: “Neto is fabulous. His output is growing in efficiency, and he is the sort of rogue winger that demands attention. Whether he is very Arteta-ry or not is another question.
“Arsenal’s continued interest in him seems to answer it somewhat. The main issue is his fitness record that just gets worse and worse. Shake that off and there’s a talent here capable of providing competition on the right for Bukayo Saka or a genuine option instead of Gabriel Martinelli on the left.
“Leandro Trossard is versatile, useful, and really is the epitome of efficient, but Neto is the gamechanger.
Harness that speed, those fast-witch movements and the explosive fibres with sparks at the end of them, and Arsenal would have a serious weapon.
The risk of him not being able to play even 60% of a season must be matched in the asking price, and that seems like it’ll decide just where he goes in the summer.
“Arsenal are right to be in this race though. It’s not the sort of transfer they have done in recent years which makes it all the more intriguing too.”
Rodrygo no-go
Arsenal’s move for Neto could hinge on the outcome of another player linked with a big-money move. It is said that Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Rodrygo could come into the equation.
Facing increased competition from the expected arrival of Kylian Mbappe in the frontline next season and with fellow Brazilian Endrick also on his way in the years to come, Rodrygo is somehow the least glitzy name of the lot.
However, with a long-term contract signed in November tying him down until 2028, Dean Jones doesn’t see the Gunners going through with this one.
“Consider what it would take for Arsenal actually to sign Rodrygo,” he told GIVEMESPORT.
“They would need to pay a fee upwards of £85m, pay him over £200,000-a-week and convince him to leave Real Madrid. It’s a lot, and it doesn’t seem feasible.
“Yes, Arsenal are considering a wide attacker, but I do not know if this is the one that makes sense. It seems like a tough deal. He’s a Madrid player, and wherever he goes from there, it’s a downward step.
Arsenal might be doing well and seem on a good trajectory, but he won’t necessarily be jumping at it.”
360gist.com.ng says:“Rodrygo feels like the type of player to be admired at a distance. Soon enough he could be facing off against Arsenal, not something that many would have predicted 18 months ago, such is the rise of the side under Arteta recently, but to lure him away from Santiago Bernabeu is another matter.
“The 23-year-old is not the headline-grabber like Vinicius Jr, but his consistency to put up numbers across the board and in every competition makes him a wonderful potential addition. He’s versatile and extremely experienced for his age – well over 250 senior appearances now – but feels so out of touch.
“Real Madrid simply don’t sell players at this stage of their career. Arsenal will be competing in a world that puts them within range of securing signings like this, but it is still a way off to actually complete it. It would be a stellar piece of business but in reality it’s not one to be holding much hope in.”
