Arsenal Transfer News Today: HUGE Rice news, SECOND Timber bid and Lavia 'AGREEMENT'
Graham Shaw
- Updated: 23 Jun 2023 15:28 CDT
- 6 min read
Arsenal face serious competition in the race to sign West Ham midfielder Declan Rice with Treble winners Man City now very much involved.
According to Italian transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio, City are in ‘advanced talks with the Hammers about Rice, with a bid of £75m plus £15m in instalments expected.
MORE: Premier League summer transfers: ALL the done deals
The Gunners have been hot favourites to land the prize signature of the 24-year-old midfielder throughout the summer to date, but City have also been expected to enter the fray at some stage.
Now the race is very much on, with reports suggesting Arsenal are still confident of getting their man, partly because the player himself is keen to remain in the London area.
Earlier this week Man Utd were reported to be readying a £100m package made up partly of cash and partly of players. The likes of England defender Harry Maguire and striker Anthony Elanga were mentioned as possible makeweights.
For now though it looks like United are very much the outsider in a fascinating battle, with Arsenal and City set to go head-to-head in a bid to persuade Rice to join them.
Gunners set to step up Timber chase with second bid
While the battle for Rice is still very much a live one, it appears the Gunners are well on the way to signing Ajax defender Jurrien Timber.
The exciting 22-year-old has already given his personal green light to a move to the Emirates Stadium, dealing a bitter blow to his former Ajax coach Erik ten Hag - who was hoping to take him to Man Utd.
Instead it appears Timber will make the move to London and Arsenal are now readying a second bid for the Dutch star, per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
Lavia ‘agreement’ reported as Gunners step up summer business
Arsenal have reached a 'verbal agreement' with Southampton's Romeo Lavia, according to a report.
The Gunners are in for a midfield rebuild this summer with the likes of Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka candidates to depart the Emirates. The former has been linked with a big-money move to Saudi Arabia and Juventus, while the latter is returning to Germany where he starred before his north London adventure.
According to Football Insider, Southampton star Lavia has 'verbally agreed to sign' for Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta is said to be a huge admirer of the Belgian youngster and he could be had for a fee of around £50 million (€58m), claims the report.
Havertz medical set for this weekend with deal close to completion
Kai Havertz is expected to undergo an Arsenal medical this weekend as the Gunners close on his signing from London rivals Chelsea.
With a fee of £65m in place and personal terms also agreed, all that now remains are the formalities before Havertz becomes Arsenal’s first major signing of the summer window.
The fee for Havertz, who netted nine goals in 47 appearances for Chelsea last season, includes potential add-ons that could increase the overall amount. The 24-year-old initially joined Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 for a fee of approximately £71m.
Partey eyes Juventus move but can they afford him?
It is no secret that Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is likely to leave the club this summer, while hopefully the aforementioned Declan Rice comes in to replace him.
The 30-year-old Ghanaian has been linked strongly with a big-money move to the Saudi Pro League - following the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. But reports from Italy - in the shape of Turin outlet Tuttosport - suggest he wants to stay in Europe, specifically by moving to Italian giants Juventus.
MORE: Out Of Contract in 2023: Best players available on a free transfer
The Bianconeri are in financial trouble now as they reel from the scandal enveloping the club, and the big question is whether they can match Arsenal’s valuation of a player whose contract is due to run until the summer of 2025. Watch this space…
Havertz arrival puts Nketiah future in doubt
Not everybody at the Emirates Stadium is over the moon about the impending arrival of Havertz, and it would appear Eddie Nketiah is feeling unsettled.
According to The Sun, the signing of Havertz leaves Nketiah fearing he will be pushed down the pecking order after playing a key role in his team’s title challenge last season.
The report claims that the suitors were he to leave would include London trio West Ham, Crystal Palace and Fulham.
