Arsenal Transfer News Today: Partey U-TURN, Mbappe plan REVEALED, Romano on NEXT MOVES

Cameron Smith

Updated: 23 Jul 2023 08:33 BST
8 min read

Thomas Partey has looked set for the Arsenal exit door for much of this summer, but Mikel Arteta wants to keep the Ghanaian despite spending £105 million on Declan Rice - a player in his position.

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The Gunners have been busy in the summer transfer window so far, spending more than £200m to bring Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber to the club - from West Ham, Chelsea and Ajax respectively.

Rice's long-awaited arrival had been preceded by Granit Xhaka's €25m departure to Bayer Leverkusen, and Partey was expected to follow suit, with Juventus and Saudi Pro League clubs linked.

MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers: All the Done Deals

But the former Atletico Madrid man started 28 of his 33 games in the Premier League last season as Arsenal finished as runners-up to Manchester City, and Arteta plan to use him again next season - according to the manager himself.

"Thomas Partey is a super-important player for us and for me and we want him to be in the team," he said ahead of the Gunners' pre-season friendly against Manchester United in New Jersey.

"[He and Rice] can play together. That was in my plans - if you want to improve the squad and have more quality we need players who can play together and need players in the same positions who have to fight for their places. It's something we haven't had in the last few years.

EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal Mbappe plan REVEALED

Arsenal are keeping a close eye on Kylian Mbappe and may use Gabriel Martinelli as a makeweight to sign the Frenchman in 2024, FootballTransfers can exclusively reveal.

Though there are doubts that the Gunners would be able to secure the move, it's no secret that Mbappe admires the club and the project on offer.

We understand that Liverpool had touched based with Mbappe's representatives too but that they do not have enough to compete financially against last season's Premier League runners-up.

As we exclusively reported before, Arsenal have a package for Mbappe but know any move for the superstar would either come in January next year or the subsequent summer transfer window.

Gunners to sell SIX to buy Ajax sensation Kudus

Arsenal are serious about the arrival of Ajax star Mohammed Kudus, with reports that the Emirates side are ready to sell six players in order to fund the transfer.

Mikel Arteta’s side have already spent more than €200 million this summer to sign Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber, meaning the manager has spent his transfer budget.

But the Spaniard still wants to improve his squad, and in order to land Kudus, who is under contract with Ajax until 2025, Arteta will have to sell players.

Ajax want in the region of €40m for the versatile Ghana international attacker, and to raise this sizeable fee, six players find themselves liable to leave Arsenal.

Arsenal are ready to sacrifice Cedric Soares, Nuno Tavares, Nicolas Pepe and Albert Sambi Lokonga to allow for Kudus to arrive. All these players were sent out on loan last season, going to Fulham, Marseille, Nice and Crystal Palace respectively. Now all are, predictably, up for sale.

Arsenal are also not unwilling to transfer Kieran Tierney and Rob Holding.

Arsenal set to benefit from Lukaku soap opera

Arsenal are set to benefit from Romelu Lukaku's uncertain Chelsea, with Inter Milan turning their attention to Gunners forward Folarin Balogun, who are the club are open to selling this summer.

Balogun shone on loan at Stade Reims last season, but the presence of Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and new signing Kai Havertz means there may not be room for him in Mikel Arteta's squad.

The Gunners' chances of offloading him have been boosted by Lukaku's indecisiveness.

Gazzetta dello Sport have reported that the prospect of a deal with Juventus have gone because the Serie A club are not in a position to sign him.

Lukaku has resorted to pleading with Inter Milan to take him back, but they are furious with him, having previously pulled out of discussions with him when they learned that he was speaking to Juventus behind their backs.

Inter have instead landed on Balogun as their primary summer target.

MORE: Saudi Pro League summer transfers 2023: All the Done Deals

Nicolas Pepe transfer collapses

Arsenal have suffered a setback in their attempts to offload Nicolas Pepe, after talks with an unnamed Saudi club reportedly collapsed.

The Gunners are looking to get their one-time record signing off the wage bill for good, having loaned him out to Nice last season.

Pepe had been the subject of interest from the Saudi Pro League, but CBS Sports are reporting that the unknown suitor have dropped their interest in the 28-year-old.

Arsenal's transfer shift - Fabrizio Romano

Arsenal have completed their priority transfer business this summer by signing Declan Rice, Havertz and Jurrien Timber, but manager Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu are ready to make more moves, according to Fabrizio Romano.

“My understanding for now is that the priority for Arsenal at the moment is to offload and sell players,” Romano told Caught Offside. “I think that’s pretty normal after the big spending on Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice.

“As previously reported, Thomas Partey is someone who has interest and who could leave if an important offer comes in, while Folarin Balogun is attracting interest from Inter Milan.

“After that we will see about more additions, but at the moment I’m told there’s no bid or concrete negotiation for Mohamed Kudus. Brighton have always been interested in Kudus this summer and he remains on their list.”

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