Kimmich and Calafiori sign, Gyokeres deal – Dream Arsenal lineup after £162m transfers – We’re surely winning the premier League next season
Kimmich and Calafiori sign, Gyokeres deal – Dream Arsenal lineup after £162m transfers – We’re surely winning the premier League next season
Arsenal made their first summer transfer official on Thursday, and more player changes are expected soon. David Raya has joined Arsenal permanently after a successful loan period last season.
Arsenal used the £27 million purchase option agreed upon with Brentford last summer to make Raya’s move permanent. Reports from football.london suggest that Raya won’t be the only new player, as Edu and Mikel Arteta want to improve other parts of the team.
One target is Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori. The 22-year-old, who can play both center-back and left-back, did very well in Serie A last season, helping Bologna qualify for the Champions League. His performances for Italy at Euro 2024 have further convinced Arteta that he would be a good addition to the team.
Arsenal is competing with Chelsea for Calafiori, but Arsenal has an advantage because they can offer Champions League football and the chance to compete for the Premier League title.
Bologna wants €50 million (£42.5 million) for Calafiori, which seems fair given his age and potential. If Arsenal signs him, he could play at left-back due to uncertainties around Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior, and also provide cover for Gabriel at center-back.
Arteta is also looking for a new central midfielder. Last season, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard were regular starters, but the third midfield spot was shared among Jorginho, Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira, and Emile Smith Rowe.
An upgrade is needed, and one possible option is Joshua Kimmich from Bayern Munich. Kimmich’s contract ends next year, and he might leave Bayern. He can play as a defensive midfielder or right-back, which would allow Rice to play more often as a left-sided No. 8. Kimmich, who is currently with Germany at Euro 2024, might cost around €40 million (£33.9 million) if Bayern decides to sell him. He has expressed some uncertainty about his future, focusing on the European Championship before making any decisions.
Arsenal is also looking for a new forward. They were interested in Benjamin Sesko, but he has extended his contract at RB Leipzig.
Other potential targets include Nico Williams, Johan Bakayoko, and Alexander Isak. Another striker Arsenal is considering is Viktor Gyokeres.
Gyokeres, 26, had a great season at Sporting CP, scoring 43 goals and providing 15 assists in 50 games. He joined Sporting last summer from Coventry, bringing some experience in English football. Arsenal would need to pay his €100 million (£85.7 million) release clause to sign him. If they do, Gyokeres would likely lead Arsenal’s attack for the 2024/25 season, playing alongside Bukayo Saka and either Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard.
A possible Arsenal lineup after the summer transfers could look like this: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Kimmich, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
