Arsenal 'make breakthrough' over £30m transfer windfall as fresh Ivan Toney claim made
Arsenal are said to be on course to secure a welcome transfer windfall with a deal close to being struck.
Arsenal are said to be close to landing a significant transfer windfall by way of selling one of their transfer listed stars. The Gunners have already spent a fair amount this summer, adding to their more than £200million outlay from last summer.
David Raya’s stay has been made permanent for £27million, while Riccardo Calafiori was signed for around £42million. Mikel Merino could be added to that list with a reported fee of £34million involved in potentially taking the Real Sociedad midfielder to North London.
That large spending bill means Arsenal must balance the books to stay within Profit and Sustainability guidelines, with the Premier League making it clear they will punish clubs for their breaches. In a bid to stay within the guidelines, Arsenal have transfer listed a number of unwanted stars, welcoming offers for Eddie Nketiah, Kieran Tierney, Jakub Kiwior and Reiss Nelson, while others have already departed, including Albert Sambi Lokonga.
The former, Nketiah, has proved a tricky player to sell this summer amid a big asking price from the Gunners, but a buyer may now have been found. According to The Telegraph, Nottingham Forest are preparing to wrap up a £30million deal for the striker after managing a breakthrough in negotiations. It’s claimed Forest have been keen on Nketiah since his loan days in 2020, and they are now keen to secure his services ahead of the transfer deadline at the end of this month.
Nketiah has played a role in Mikel Arteta’s project over the last couple of years, but he has not been able to nail down a regular starting spot amid the presence of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz. He will surely land a starting spot should he make the move to Forest.
Arsenal’s striker search
Arsenal have been tipped to make a move for a new striker this summer, but they have prioritised other areas, with the left side of defence and the midfield the key areas for Arteta. A striker and added competition on the wings could be something the Gunners keep an eye on at the end of the window.
Arteta recently said of Arsenal’s existing striker options: “I have faith in [Havertz], we have faith in [Gabriel Jesus], Leandro [Trossard] has played in that position. So we have different qualities in there and the best thing we can do is trust the players that we have and try improve them. They are so good and so willing and that's what we focus on."
Strikers are pricey, and especially at this late stage in the window. Brentford’s Ivan Toney has been linked, but according to The Athletic, Brentford’s asking price of between £70million and £80million is too steep for Arsenal in this window. Bees boss Thomas Frank says Toney’s departure is ‘not close’ but is likely.