Arsenal handed transfer update in pursuit of £55m star as player Arteta took to 'next level' outlines 'intention'

Arsenal have been dealt a huge blow just hours after the celebration of securing their first big signing of the summer transfer window. After two months of transfer discussions Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori has been confirmed as Arsenal’s latest addition.

The 22-year-old signed a five-year contract worth £42 million but the Gunners have now been handed a huge disappointment as their hope of a Leroy Sane-Mikel Arteta reunion slips away.

Arteta is of course no stranger to Sane with the pair having worked together at Manchester City during the latter’s four year stay at the Etihad. In 2020, Sane spoke to the Independent of his ‘great relationship’ with Arteta, saying: “He tried to improve my football; he told me what I did good and what I did wrong, and he tried to work on it. Next to Pep, they both really helped me and improved me, to bring me to the next level.”

The 28-year-old - who departed City in 2020 for a fee of £54.8m - had been linked with a move back to the Premier League with Mikel Arteta hopeful of strengthening his front line but the latest reports from Germany indicate Sane has no intention to leave his current side Bayern Munich and remains fully focused on the upcoming season.

Despite missing a large portion of the end of the 2023/24 campaign through injury, Sane scored eight goals and contributed 11 assists in 27 appearances, attracting the interest of the Gunners.

According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal had been ‘closely monitoring’ Sane’s situation with his current contract set to run out next year. However, the German journalist continued by adding that the winger has no interest in parting ways with the Bavarian giants and remains focused on the new season under ex-Burnley manager Vincent Kompany.

The latest update comes months after the German international remained coy on his future intentions and was quoted by the Mirror back in November as saying: “I haven’t given it any thought. The club wants to have discussions but at the moment I want to concentrate on the season. Bayern will be my first point of contract, everything else will take care of itself.”