Arsenal’s summer transfer extravaganza will look to move into its next phase under Mikel Arteta and club technical director Edu Gaspar this summer as the Gunners will begin to move assets off the books at the Emirates, with Folarin Balogun and Nicolas Pépé in the firing line from clubs in Europe and Saudi Arabia.
This next summer phase comes in the wake of the Gunners splashing in excess of £200m on three key summer additions in the vein of West Ham United captain Declan Rice, German international Kai Havertz, and Dutch talent Jurriën Timber, with the Gunners possibly moving for another midfielder as well as a versatile forward later in the window depending on outgoings, namely Ghanaian star Thomas Partey.
Balogun remains on the radar screens of a number of clubs across Europe, while an escape route for Pépé could possibly be found via the Roshn Saudi League’s market assault that has already prized a cadre of names from the continent.
According to CBS Sports’ James Bange, Serie A giants Inter Milan are prepared to make a first offer for Balogun, which will likely land around the €40m (£35m) mark, which is well short of Arsenal’s valuation of the United States international of around £50m.
– Inter ready to make €40m offer for Folarin Balogun (w/ the excellent @fraporzio95)
– Arsenal unlikely to rush their response with PL suitors in the mix
– Nicolas Pepe approached by Saudi club, significant difference in wage expectations between parties https://t.co/oywkjWN3kv— James Benge (@jamesbenge) July 17, 2023
However, , which could not only solve the Italian’s immediate need for a potential new long-term center-forward but also allow Arsenal to bring Balogun back moving forward should the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah fail to deliver in the coming seasons.
As for Pépé, who spent last season back in France with OGC Nice, his future is almost assuredly away from north London after failing to make the grade since Arteta arrived back at the club in a managerial capacity.
Per Benge, Arsenal is not expecting to receive a considerable fee for the player, with getting his wages off the books of paramount importance: “A midtable Saudi Arabian club expressed an initial interest in Pepe last week, however, there is currently a significant difference between the salary expectations of his suitors in the Pro League and the player himself. Arsenal is believed to be willing to accept a nominal fee or even consider a contract termination if it helps to get the final year of his £7.3 million salary off their books.”
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