Kimmich and Calafiori sign, Gyokeres deal – Dream Arsenal lineup after £162m transfers – We’re surely winning the premier League next season
Arsenal completed their first summer transfer on Thursday and more players are expected to arrive and depart in the coming weeks.
David Raya made the permanent move to Emirates Stadium after a successful loan spell last campaign, with the Gunners activating the £27million purchase option which was included in negotiations with Brentford last summer. football.london understands Raya will not be the last arrival at Arsenal this summer with Edu and Mikel Arteta keen on strengthening other areas of the squad.
It’s understood there is significant interest in Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori. The centre-back, who can also play at left-back, impressed in Serie A last season and helped Bologna qualify for the Champions League
Calafiori impressed for Italy at Euro 2024 and those performances helped convince Mikel Arteta that the 22-year-old is the right profile to add to the squad. Arsenal do have competition for the defender, however, with Chelsea also interested but it’s believed the north Londoners are in the best position to secure his signature given they can offer Champions League football and the possibility of yet another Premier League title challenge.
Bologna have slapped a €50million (£42.5million) asking price on Calafiori which, given he is 22 years old, seems acceptable. If the defender was to sign, it’s possible he slots in at left-back given the uncertainty surrounding both Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior, while the Italian will also offer much-needed cover for Gabriel at centre-back.
football.london understands Arteta also wants to sign a central midfielder this summer. Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard were among the first names on the team sheet last campaign but the third midfield spot was shared around the squad. Jorginho, Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe were given chances in the Gunners midfield but there is an acceptance that an upgrade can be signed.
One player who could fit nicely into Arteta’s squad is Joshua Kimmich. The Bayern Munich star has been linked with a move away from the Bundesliga giants this summer with his contract at Allianz Arena expiring next year.
Capable of playing as a defensive midfielder or at right-back, Kimmich would bring versatility, quality and experience to Arsenal. He could play as a No.6 in the Gunners midfield, which would allow Declan Rice to push higher up and play as the left-sided No.8 – a position Arteta is keen for him to play more often.
Kimmich, who is is currently part of Germany’s Euro 2024 squad, could be available for around €40million (£33.9million) if Bayern decide to sell the 29-year-old. Kimmich recently revealed he is unsure where his future lies. “There has been no contact,” he told the media after Germany’s 2-0 victory over Denmark.
“We haven’t yet discussed anything. Max and Christoph [Bayern officials] wrote to me and congratulated me on the victory [against Denmark at Euro 2024].” When previously asked about his career prospects at Bayern, Kimmich said: “Oh, great question. Well, the situation is absolutely clear: I have a contract with FC Bayern until 2025, so it’s not mainly up to me to be active right now. My focus is solely on the European Championship, and after that there will be a conversation.”
football.london has been told that Arsenal are also in the market for a forward this window. Benjamin Sesko was of interest before the start of Euro 2024 but he has since signed a contract extension at RB Leipzig, while the likes of Nico Williams, Johan Bakayoko and Alexander Isak have also been linked.
Another striker tipped to make the move to north London is Viktor Gyokeres. The 26-year-old impressed for Sporting CP last season, scoring 43 goals and assisting 15 more in 50 appearances.
The powerful No.9 signed for the Portuguese side last summer after a decent campaign in the Championship with Coventry so would arrive with some English football experience. To sign the striker, however, Arsenal would have to pay his €100million (£85.7million) release clause.
If Gyokeres were to sign, he would most likely spearhead Arsenal’s attack for the 2024/25 season. Bukayo Saka and one of Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard would play either side of him.
Dream Arsenal lineup after summer transfer window: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Kimmich, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
