Arsenal transfer round-up: 'Rock solid' Gunners signing 'packing his bags' as another attacker deal 'expected'

Arsenal are now stepping up their summer transfer efforts as they look to bring in the bulk of their summer signings before their summer pre-season tour. The Gunners have been busy in the last couple of weeks, signing Kepa Arrizabalaga and Martin Zubimendi, and they are expected to stay busy over the next fortnight or so, in particular.

Mikel Arteta knows he needs more quality and depth across his squad, and he will be backed by the board. Here we round up all the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding the Emirates Stadium.

Madueke ‘latest’

Arsenal are expected to sign Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, according to former scout Mick Brown. He told Football Insider: “I am expecting Madueke to join Arsenal. It’s the type of deal that would work for all parties, because Arsenal are serious about their interest and I hear Chelsea are willing to let him go.

“That should be enough to get the ball rolling and Arsenal are preparing an offer for him. I don’t think they’ll have any reservations about letting him go there if the price is right. For me, he has got to be playing regular football at this stage of his career. Arsenal have got to decide what their plans are for him, and I have no doubt Arteta will have laid out those plans for him already.

“Is he going to start ahead of Saka? No. Maybe he’ll play on that left-hand side, but he’s not a left-winger as much as he is obviously capable of playing there. But they’ve decided he’s the one they want so the manager must have a role in mind. He’s got a lot of assets which are going to benefit Arsenal and a lot of talent they clearly admire. So I think they’re going to make that formal offer before long and it shouldn’t be too hard to reach an agreement with Chelsea.”

Gyokeres packing his bags

Arsenal are said to be closing in rapidly on a deal to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres. The Gunners have been in talks over Gyokeres for weeks, although they have also been discussing a move RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

Reports emerged over the weekend that Arsenal had made a breakthrough over Gyokeres and that they had decided to pursue a deal for the Coventry City frontman. That deal is said to be worth £69million in all, with £56million of that being paid upfront. CNN Portugal are now reporting that Gyokeres fully expects the deal to go through and that he is already packing his bags as he prepares to make the move to North London this summer.

Gyokeres praise

Arsenal favourite Martin Keown has been praising the likely signing of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, describing the forward as ‘rock solid’. Keown told TalkSport: “There’s not a lot wrong with the squad but they needed to add in certain positions, we’ve been crying out for a centre-forward due to the injuries that they had.

“This guy (Gyokeres) you know is rock solid, you can play the ball into him, he holds it up well, he has pace, power and I think he’s quite emphatic in front of goal — just what Arsenal need. He just now needs to do his talking on the pitch.”

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