Arsenal transfer news: Target date for Gunners to sign a striker, what’s going on with Eberechi Eze and Rodrygo deals and which FIVE stars are set to leave

Arsenal’s transfer business is underway – at last.

The £5million arrival of Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea is their first incoming of the summer, under new sporting director Andrea Berta. But, of course, this won’t be enough to finally get over the hump in the Premier League.

Midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard are set to be next through the door – joining for around £60m combined. And then it’s onto the really big needs: striker and left winger.

Arsenal have been linked with a host of names in both positions but need to start narrowing down with pre-season training getting underway next week.

We put out the call for your questions on all things transfers around the club as they look to make big waves this summer and end their long, long wait for a league title.

And here our Arsenal expert ISAAN KHAN has been answering them all. 

When do you think Arsenal will complete the deal for a striker? (@AFCI4I)

The target laid out by Mikel Arteta is for a striker to be signed before Arsenal fly out to Singapore on July 19 for their pre-season tour of Asia.

So I would envisage a deal having either being made or very close to finalising in the week commencing July 14. That would allow the signing to properly bed in with the squad and learn Arteta’s comprehensive tactics playbook ahead of the new season.

I understand that a striker will definitely be signed in this window, which will be a sigh of relief for Arsenal supporters who have been crying out for one since before last summer.

The names in the frame, as you will know by now unless you have been living on Mars, are Red Bull Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP and – further down the pecking order – Ollie Watkins at Aston Villa.

Hi Isaan, is there any chance for Arsenal getting both Eberechi Eze and Rodrygo this summer? (@Fai9alAFC)

There is a chance but a lot has to go Arsenal’s way for that to happen. The club held talks with Eze’s representatives on Saturday, with the player also of interest to Tottenham.

The Crystal Palace man would undoubtedly add flair to the Gunners’s play in the attacking third and add further depth to their squad, as an option in both the ‘left eight’ position and off the left wing. He predominantly features as one of Oliver Glasner’s two No 10s at Palace.

Eze, who began his academy career at Arsenal before being released at the age of 13, is understood to be keen on the move which would be a full circle moment for the forward.

The situation around Real Madrid’s Rodrygo has been made more interesting because of the Club World Cup. He has played just 23 minutes in the last three games. 

Arsenal’s interest in the player is well documented and these recent developments in a lack of game time could well prise open the door for the Gunners who are monitoring the situation.

Overall though, while the addition of a left winger is desired, but it’s a striker that is the priority.

Any chance of Arsenal getting Alexander Isak? (@Miano21642488)

Arteta is a huge fan of Isak, who was his preferred striker choice, but the chances of a deal materialising are very slim indeed.

Newcastle securing Champions League football for next season was a significant factor — and there is interest from other clubs, including Liverpool.

At the same time, the Toon club are trying to tie Isak down to a new deal which would make him the highest-paid Newcastle player in history on a salary beyond £150,000 a week.

It just would not be prudent to pour their time and effort into an unwinnable situation, and it is why Arsenal are so focused on landing either Sesko or Gyokeres.

Would Arsenal need to sell Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli sale to bring in the likes of Rodrygo and/or Eze? (@AFCMatt09)

Not necessarily. As reported by Mail Sport, Leandro Trossard has been in talks over a new deal to 2029. If he were to agree those terms, the Belgian 30-year-old would be more of a fringe player going forward.

Gabriel Martinelli is still the No 1 choice at left winger, so if Rodrygo arrived the pair would compete for that position. It would be a healthy situation for the club who still see real potential in Martinelli. It’s not a case of Martinelli or Rodrygo. Both could coexist in the same squad.

Should we expect a major sale and would we sign two more players from sales? (@Officialelsamo)

If a large bid were to come in for a first-team starter such as Martinelli, Arsenal would consider the offer. But that aside, I don’t expect a major sale of a first-team player.

Instead, fringe players Reiss Nelson and Oleksandr Zinchenko, who both earn over £100,000 a week, Jakub Kiwior, Fabio Vieira and Albert Sambi Lokonga are all in contention for exits.

And yes, it stands to reason that any incomings could be reinvested. But let’s see.

With Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi on their way, will we see another midfielder join now that Thomas Partey’s contract has expired? (@PauloMarti71171)

That is unlikely. With Norgaard and Zubimendi set to join from Brentford and Real Sociedad respectively, other positions are the priority. Striker is the No 1 focus, and then a further attacking player.

Centre back Cristhian Mosquera is expected to sign from Valencia, and a full back could well be considered if Zinchenko is, as expected, leaves the club.

The signature of another midfielder would surprise me.

What’s the expectation with Max Dowman? Should we expect a good amount of minutes for him? (@AFCMattxx)

Max Dowman is in Arteta’s midfield squad plans for next season.

In a May press conference, Arteta was asked about depth in attacking midfield. He didn’t mention loanee Vieira at Porto or the need to enter the transfer market. Instead, he name-checked Dowman.

And in January, he said on the youngster: ‘Some of the things that he does in training are unbelievable, he’s a player obviously with a huge talent that we have a lot of belief that we can develop him to become one of our own. And he’s doing very well so far.’

The 15-year-old will go on Arsenal’s pre-season tour of Asia which will be a key gauge of how involved he could be for next season.

He is also set to be available for UEFA Youth League matches for the Under 19s, played against the respective youth sides of Arsenal’s Champions League opponents. He was one of the club’s star players in the competition last season. 

He has escalated levels rapidly in this campaign from playing for the Under 18s to going on the first-team’s mid-season trip to Dubai. If he carries on in the same vein, an appearance or two off the bench is certainly a possibility.