Arsenal transfer round-up: Arteta set to offload two defenders in major shake up
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Arsenal’s search for an additional midfielder remains an ongoing battle, with neither Atletico Madrid or Lyon prepared to cash in on Thomas Partey or Houssem Aouar respectively.
The Gunners may even need to add two midfielders if Matteo Guendouzi is shown to the exit door at the Emirates Stadium before the window closes in a couple of weeks.
The Frenchman is best categorised as surplus to requirements under Mikel Arteta, with a number of other players many years Guendouzi’s senior falling into the same bracket.
After making an encouraging start to the season – two wins from two matches – it may appear as though Arsenal are hardly in need of reinforcements.
(Image: Will Oliver/Pool/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
However, a truncated campaign means a congested calendar and Arteta will want to have plenty of options at his disposal to tackle the various competitions.
Here is the latest Arsenal transfer news.
Mustafi to be offloaded by Gunners
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New signings Willian and Gabriel Magalhaes both hit the ground running against Fulham but Mikel Arteta is still on the lookout for new signings. Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar and Brentford keeper David Raya are two of the names on their radar.
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Experienced centre-back Shkodran Mustafi may be offloaded by Arteta in the final two weeks of the transfer window in order to make room for players atop the Spaniard’s wishlist.
Mustafi has been injured since July and is yet to return to first-team training, falling behind new additions in the pecking order. Over the summer, Arsenal welcomed centre-back duo William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes to the club, further squeezing Mustafi out of Arteta’s new-look side.
The Daily Express report Lazio are a possible destination for the Germany international, with reports from Corriere Della Sera indicating Simone Inzaghi is an admirer.
An £11 million figure has been quoted amid talk Arsenal may renege on their €15 million asking price in order to have Mustafi off their books.
Bosnian international told to leave
Arteta’s ruthless streak has been evident throughout his tenure as Arsenal manager, ostracising Guendouzi for perceived immaturity and ill-discipline and refusing to comment definitively on star striker Alexandre Lacazette’s future.
His decisiveness has not stopped there, though, with HITC reporting that Sead Kolasinac has been told to find a new club amidst alleged interest from Bayer Leverkusen.
(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Kolasinac has previously played in the Bundesliga with Schalke, where he attracted the attention of Arsenal.
However, with the emergence of Kieran Tierney as first-choice left-back and left-sided centre-back, the road back to prominence in Arteta’s starting XI seems a long one for the Bosnian international.
Goalkeeper shake-up at Arsenal
1. Simon Weaver (Harrogate Town) – 11 years, 73 days
2. Gareth Ainsworth (Wycombe) – 7 years, 313 days
3. Sean Dyche (Burnley) – 7 years, 277 days
4. John Coleman (Accrington Stanley) – 5 years, 319 days
5. Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) – 4 years, 299 days
6. Mark Cooper (Forest Green) – 4 years, 85 days
7. Chris Wilder (Sheffield United) – 4 years, 82 days
8. Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) – 4 years, 32 days
9. Paul Warne (Rotherham) – 3 years, 248 days
10. David Artell (Crewe) – 3 years, 207 days
With Emiliano Martinez having departed for pastures new at Villa Park, Arsenal have moved swiftly to bring in a deputy to Bernd Leno in Icelandic international Runar Alex Runarsson.
That might not be the end of the Gunners’ business with goalkeepers this window though, as the Daily Express report Brentford stopper David Raya is still in line for a cross-London switch to the Emirates Stadium.
Raya is not a top priority owing to the prior acquisition of Runarsson and Leno being fully fit.
However, if Arsenal manage to conclude their other transfer business and find they have funds remaining, they may move for Raya to bolster their options between the posts.
The future of third-choice goalkeeper Matt Macey may also influence Arteta’s decision over Raya.
Macey is quoted as saying he would like to play first-team football this season, which would have to be elsewhere, meaning Raya could be signed to compete for the back-up spot with Runarsson.
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