Arsenal trigger agreement and talks open

In today's Arsenal transfer news, the Gunners are reportedly looking to make the loan deal of one of their star players into a permanent one. The player in question has divided opinion during his stint at the Emirates Stadium so far - nevertheless, head coach Mikel Arteta is keen to tie him down.

Additionally, Arsenal are also 'ready' to open contract talks with a player who they had previously been thought to be selling in the January transfer window. A slew of string performances in Arsenal's back line is likely to be the reason for the change in stance - but can the two parties strike an agreement?

Gunners seeking permanent deal for David Raya

David Raya has been a controversial figure since he arrived at Arsenal, with debate raging over whether he is better than Aaron Ramsdale or not. Regardless, Arteta wants to keep him at the club on a permanent basis.

This is according to Fabrizio Romano - he wrote that Arsenal have triggered the £27 million clause to allow his loan deal to become permanent in 2024 and that talks between the Gunners and Brentford are 'all done'.

Arsenal to open contract talks with Takehiro Tomiyasu

Previously in the 2023/24 season, Arsenal were believed to be looking to sell Takehiro Tomiyasu - now, they're hoping he will sign a new contract.

This has been reported by Mail Online - they say that Tomiyasu's superlative start to the campaign has been a major contributing factor to this u-turn. They may need to act fast, though - the Japanese international is thought to be in the crosshairs of Bayern Munich.

As things stand, Tomiyasu has 18 months left on his existing deal. There is an option to extend his current contract, but signing a fresh deal would be a great way to ward off any potential suitors.