Arsenal’s Raya transfer UNLOCKED by unexpected source

Robin Bairner

5 Aug 2023 02:25 CDT
3 min read

David Raya, Brentford, Arsenal — © ProShots

Arsenal’s transfer window could be unlocked in August by an unexpected source: Gianluca Scamacca.

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The West Ham striker is currently close to completing a transfer to Atalanta worth in the region of €30 million, but this deal could create a domino effect that will help Mikel Arteta complete his objectives for the window.

In spending over €200m – exactly what FootballTransfers exclusively revealed his summer budget was – on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber, Arteta exhausted his initial supply of funds completing transfer deals that he felt were essential.

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Now he is set to move onto more luxury moves, with the possibility of signing David Raya from Brentford one that is live.

FootballTransfers has also exclusively revealed that the Gunners are still interested in Aston Villa attacking midfielder Emiliano Buendia, who was close to a move to the club in 2021.

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Arsenal to benefit from Scamacca domino effect

In order to push through these deals, Arteta needs to raise funds through the sale of players, which Scamacca’s move to Atalanta will help him do.

With the Italy international going to the Serie A club, it takes a striker off Inter Milan’s shortlist and means that Folarin Balogun once again becomes a prospect for the San Siro outfit.

The Nerazzurri have been reticent to match Arsenal’s €50m asking price – an ambitious figure for the US international.

© ProShots - Balogun could still leave Arsenal

With the end of the transfer window looming, though, and Balogun down the pecking order, despite an injury to Gabriel Jesus, the Gunners may be prepared to move on that figure sufficiently to allow Inter to complete a deal.

In turn, this would offer Arteta fuel to go out and sign Raya or Buendia, both of whom could be on the market this summer.

Having got his key transfers done early, though, Arsenal are in the luxurious position of negotiating from a position of strength, ensuring that they should get good deals should they choose to move at all.