Mikel Arteta is prepared to move quickly in the 2023 summer transfer window as Arsenal gear up for their return to the UEFA Champions League in 2023/24 and another push for the Premier League title.
Arteta’s focus will be on strengthening his squad’s depth after falling short in the 2022/23 title race to defending champions Manchester City. Midfield and defence look set to be the key areas the Gunners will look to bolster.
West Ham captain and central midfielder Declan Rice is rumoured to be Arteta’s No.1 target, with Granit Xhaka looking set to join Bayer Leverkusen. Another potential raid on City could be on the horizon, with Portuguese international fullback Joao Cancelo as the fresh target, while Ilkay Gundogan has also been linked.
Arteta will have a sizeable transfer budget to work with, including a cash injection from Arsenal’s Champions League qualification, and the club are reportedly prepared to make a record bid for Rice. Fellow English midfielders Mason Mount and James Maddison have also been linked with the Gunners.
MORE: Why Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko left Man City for Arsenal
Arsenal players IN
| Name | Position | Transfer from | Transfer fee |
| Folarin Balogun | FOR | Stade Reims | Return from loan |
| Nicolas Pepe | FOR | Nice | Return from loan |
| Nuno Tavares | DEF | Marseille | Return from loan |
| Cedric Soares | DEF | Fulham | Return from loan |
Arsenal players OUT
| Name | Position | Transferred to | Transfer fee |
| Pablo Mari | DEF | Monza (Italy) | £4.2m / $5.2m |
| Ainsley Maitland-Niles | MID | Out of contract | — |
Arteta ready to offload Balogun
Alongside new players arriving at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta is also planning sales, to raise funds for incoming transfers.
As per reports from Sky Sports, Folarin Balogun will ask to leave the club on his return from a loan spell at French side Reims in June.
Balogun has netted 20 Ligue 1 goals in 2022/23, with his stock continuing to rise, and AS Monaco are interested in the newly declared US international, alongside Bundesliga duo RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt.
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Gunners battle Man City for Gnonto signature
Arsenal have been focusing on signing younger players to help build their squad for the future. This project by Edu Gaspar and Arteta has seen the likes of Marquinhos, Jakub Kiwior, and Albert Sambi Lokonga all join the north London side.
According to Calcio Mercato, the Gunners are preparing to fight rivals Man City for Leeds’ attacker Wilfried Gnonto. The Italian player is only 19-years-old, but his ability with the ball at his feet has made him a great prospect for Premier League clubs.
Gnonto has also managed to score twice for the Italy senior national team, once in a friendly international and the other in a UEFA Nations League match.
MORE: Top players available on a free during the summer transfer window
Maddison and Mount touted for Gunners moves
English attacking midfield duo James Maddison and Mason Mount could both be on the move this summer, with Arsenal mentioned in some reports as a possible destination for them.
Although defensive midfield looks to be a greater priority for Arteta, Martin Odegaard could use some competition and backup in the No.10 role, while more depth out wide would strengthen the Gunners, too.
The Mirror say Arteta is planning a major overhaul of his midfield area in the summer and is willing to offload Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe, with Maddison – also a target for Newcastle – on his wish-list when it comes to replacements.
The Foxes will assess their options over Maddison, after their Premier League relegation was confirmed, with an asking price of £40m, as he enters the final year of his contract.
Sky Sports claim Arsenal could rival Manchester United for Chelsea star Mount, who is verging closer to an exit from Stamford Bridge after a frustrating year.
Arsenal set for club-record transfer bid for Rice?
Rice has been linked with moves to Manchester City, Manchester United, and former side Chelsea, and Hammers manager David Moyes has consistently hinted that his club face a battle to keep him at the club.
Arsenal’s interest has stepped up in recent weeks, as they try to gain an edge on their rivals, and begin transfer talks as soon as the 2022/23 campaign ends.
Could Arsenal make a move for Declan Rice this summer?
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) March 28, 2020
Rice’s route back to Chelsea — where he spent time as an academy player before joining West Ham — looks to have been blocked by the Blues’ £105m/$130m Premier League record swoop for World Cup star Enzo Fernandez in January.
Reports from the Daily Telegraph claim Arsenal are willing to test Moyes’ £100m/$125m valuation of Rice, with a club record bid of £92m/$114m offer, for the 24-year-old England international.
United are likely to rival Arsenal for Rice, as Erik ten Hag aims to rebuild his midfield, but Arsenal’s speed off the mark could be crucial.
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are also monitoring the situation, with the Daily Mirror stating they are ready to match any early Arsenal offer, with an initial package of £95/$118m.
MORE: Declan Rice transfer news updates
Arteta ready to offer Cancelo a City exit
Joao Canelo’s January loan switch from City to Bayern Munich caused a shock at the Etihad Stadium as the Portuguese defender admitted his frustration at being frozen out of Pep Guardiola’s plans.
His switch to Bavaria has not yielded great results, and Bayern are unlikely to trigger their £60m/$75m purchase clause on him, as he returns to City in June.
Arsenal are interested in signing João Cancelo this summer. [@Matt_Law_DT] pic.twitter.com/cETWcHpjEQ
— Gunners (@Gunnersc0m) May 17, 2023
Arteta secured deals for former Man City players Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko at the start of 2022/23, as he utilised his former City links, to offer the pair a greater role than Guardiola could provide at the Etihad Stadium.
Widespread reports have linked Arteta with a repeat trick this summer, but former Premier League star Jamie Carragher has warned of City’s reluctance to trade with Arsenal, due to their new title rivalry.
MORE: Why Joao Cancelo was loaned out to Bayern Munich
Arsenal transfer rumours and reports
Arsenal have already been heavily linked with some potential key signings, with Arteta keen to ensure the bulk of his squad are in place before a ball is kicked in pre-season, from the start of July.
Midfield is a priority for Arteta, but the injury issues to centre-back William Saliba will have also heightened the need for more defensive cover, as well as a central striker to join Jesus and Nketiah.
Arsenal 2023/24 transfer links
| Name | Pos. | Age | Club | Transfer value | Source |
| Joao Cancelo | DEF | 28 | Man City | £52m / $64m | Multiple |
| Moussa Diaby | FOR | 23 | B. Leverkusen | £43m / $54m | Multiple |
| Wilfired Gnonto | FOR | 19 | Leeds | £15.5m / $19.2m | Calcio Mercato |
| Marc Guehi | DEF | 22 | Crystal Palace | £30m / $37m | Metro |
| Declan Rice | MID | 24 | West Ham | £100m / $125m | Multiple |
| Ilkay Gundogan | MID | 24 | Man City | Free | Multiple |
| Mason Mount | MID | 24 | Chelsea | £55m / $68m | Sky Sports |
| James Maddison | MID | 26 | Leicester | £26m / $33m | The Mirror |
Arsenal squad 2023/24
Here’s a snapshot of the Arsenal squad heading into the new season:
Goalkeepers (3): Karl Hein, Aaron Ramsdale, Matt Turner
Defenders (8): Rob Holding, Jakub Kiwior, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Cedric Soares, Nuno Tavares, Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko
Midfielders (8): Mohamed Elneny, Jorginho, Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira, Granit Xhaka
Forwards (6): Folarin Balogun, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Nicolas Pepe, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard
