Arsenal to wrap up FOUR major deals this week

Stuart Telford

• 2 Jul 2023 09:50 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal are poised to bolt down four players this week - having already signed Kai Havertz - as they look to build a squad that can topple Manchester City in the Premier League next season.

Havertz joined from Chelsea in a £65 million transfer last week, and is set to be joined at the Emirates by Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber, who will sign from West Ham and Ajax for £105m and €48m respectively.

That makes for a trio of strong additions to the Arsenal squad. Mikel Arteta feels he can unlock former Bayer Leverkusen and Germany prodigy Havertz in a way that Chelsea could not, while Rice and Timber should reinforce the Gunners' midfield and defence respectively.

READ: Are Arsenal breaking FFP rules with Havertz, Rice and Timber?

But new players aren't the only ones set to pay key roles under the Spaniard next season, with William Saliba and Reiss Nelson also on the cusp of signing extensions.

New contracts

"[Arsenal] hope to tie down key defender William Saliba to a new long-term deal," report the Daily Mirror. "And they are keen to complete and announce a new contract for forward Reiss Nelson, too.

"[Saliba] is set to put pen to paper on a new four-year deal… while Arsenal are hopeful that [Nelson] will put pen to paper on a four-year deal of his own to allay any fears of him departing.

READ: Why Arsenal are signing Jurrien Timber

Nelson is out of contract at the Emirates and Crystal Palace have been credited with an interest in the former England under-21 winger as they prepare for life without Wilfried Zaha, who is also available on a free.

Saliba in particular was central to Arsenal's title tilt last season. The Frenchman started almost every game as the Gunners stayed top of the Premier League for 248 days, but they wobbled after he suffered a back injury in March and ended up finishing five points behind champions Manchester City.