Every Arsenal Rumour Ever – 2018 Summer Edition
It’s nothing new for our club to be linked with the who’s who across Europe. Powered by countless mediahouses, tabloids and wannabe experts who’s only qualification is knowing how to use a twitter handle, the rumour mill is at it again burning the midnight oil, churning one rumour after another linking us with some of the most courted (and expensive) prospects across Europe, while still maintaining that our total transfer budget would be an abysmally low 50 million.
So which one is it? And with the shortest transfer window in Premier League history now underway, who are new Head Coach Unai Emery and Head of Recruitment Sven Mislintat planning to bring to London?
With these questions looming in the minds of every Gooner out there, we take a closer look at ALL the players (that’s right, every single one of them) linked with us over the summer, along with our thoughts on the likelihood of the transfer and the scale of impact they would bring to the club.
Stephen Lichtsteiner
The Juventus right-back is close to agreeing a free transfer to Arsenal after holding talks with the club.
A one-year deal, with an option of a further 12 months, is on the table for the experienced 34-year-old Switzerland international.
The defender was at London Colney for talks and sources say that those talks progressed very well.
A deal is not yet done and there are other clubs in for Lichtsteiner, but Arsenal are confident that they will win the race for the experienced Juventus man.
Arsenal are keen to bring him in to add more experience and leadership to a young squad and believe he will provide could cover and competition for Hector Bellerin.
Transfer Likelihood: 10/10 Expected Impact on the team: 4/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): NA (Free transfer)
Bernd Leno
The German keeper is very much on Arsenal’s agenda this summer.
Leno is looking to leave Bayern Leverkusen and had looked destined to join Napoli.
But he opted against a move to Italy and Sven Mislintat is a big admirer of the 26-year-old.
Leno has a £22 million release clause and as it stands is the most likely arrival, should Arsenal choose to replace Petr Cech.
Transfer Likelihood: 10/10 Expected Impact on the team: 9/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 22
Sokratis Papastathopoulos
Arsenal will soon complete a deal to bring Sokratis to the club.
Talks have been ongoing for weeks with Borussia Dortmund and the move for the centre-back is now all but complete.
The Greece international will link up once again with Sven Mislintat – as well as former Dortmund stars Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Transfer Likelihood: 9/10 Expected Impact on the team: 7/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 15
Caglar Soyuncu
The Turkish defender has confirmed Arsenal are interested in signing him this summer.
The centre-back is currently away with the Turkish national team and, speaking to the Turkish media, he stated that his future will be sorted once he returns to Germany following the game against Russia on June 5.
“Arsenal are one of the most important clubs in England,” he said. “I know they’re interested in me, but there’s nothing finalized yet about my transfer.
“After the national team camp we’ll have talks.”
Soyuncu is a player Arsenal are seriously looking at and the defender’s preference is to move to the Premier League.
Freiburg are asking for around £35m though, an asking price they will have to reduce if Arsenal are to do business.
Transfer Likelihood: 4/10 Expected Impact on the team: 7/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 32
Lucas Torreira
Italian reports suggest Arenal have been considering activating Torreira’s release clause this summer.
Lucas Torreira can be Arsenal’s very own N’Golo Kante to kick start the Unai Emery era
The Sampdoria midfielder’s clause is £22 million and is the type of player Arsenal are in the market for over the next couple of months.
But the likelihood is he stays in Italy, with Napoli keen.
Transfer Likelihood: 10/10 Expected Impact on the team: 9/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 25
Jean Seri
Arsenal have a long-standing interest in Seri, they came close to getting the Nice midfielder last season.
In the end he seemed destined for Barcelona, only for the move to collapse at the last minute.
The Ivory Coast international looks certain to leave Nice this summer, however, and Arsenal have again been linked.
There is genuine interest in Seri at the Emirates, with new head coach Unai Emery a fan, as well as head of football relations Raul Sanllehi.
He would cost £35m, a figure Arsenal could afford – but a move in unlikely unless Aaron Ramsey moves on.
Transfer Likelihood: 5/10 Expected Impact on the team: 6/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 35
Bassem Srarfi
AKA the Tunisian Dulquer Salman…. Arsenal scouts are reported to have been watching the Nice winger, who has also been linked with Leicester.
Bringing in a wide attacker is on the agenda this summer, but Srarfi would be an unlikely addition.
The 20-year-old did not exactly set the wold alight in France last season and would not walk in and immediately improve this Arsenal team.
Transfer Likelihood: 4/10 Expected Impact on the team: 3/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 5
Ousmane Dembele
This would be Sven Mislintat’s dream addition.
Arsenal’s head of recruitment has a close relationship with Dembele and there are reports he is in regular contract with the Barcelona man.
For a move to materialise this summer, it would have to be a loan as Arsenal wouldn’t be able to afford the transfer fee.
It’s unlikely Barcelona would allow the attacker to leave, however, even in loan.
Transfer Likelihood: 3/10 Expected Impact on the team: 10/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): NA (Loan)
Yacine Adli & Matteo Guendouzi
The PSG youngsters have been linked with a move to Arsenal.
While Adli, an attacking midfielder will be a valuable acquisition, it is the potential of Guendouzi joining the team that fills me with hope. The promising defensive midfielder seems to be a more mobile version of David Luiz as he slides across the pitch with ease.
Adli Transfer Likelihood: 7/10 Expected Impact on the team: 6.5/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 5 Guendouzi Transfer Likelihood: 9/10 Expected Impact on the team: 8/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 5 Sergio Rico
Having played under Unai Emery at Sevilla, Rico has been suggested as a possible target for Arsenal.
Reports in Spain claim that Emery has already sounded out his former keeper about a switch to north London.
It’s a move that would make sense for a lot of reasons, but it would probably depend on what happens with Bernd Leno.
Transfer Likelihood: 6.5/10 Expected Impact on the team: 8/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 15
Stephen N’Zonzi
With brining in a midfielder a priority, it is no surprise to see Stephen N’Zonzi mentioned as a possible target.
The former Blackburn man has a long history of being linked to Arsenal, with speculation rife in January about a possible deal.
Unai Emery’s arrival increases the link, given the pair worked together at Sevilla. It’s one to keep an eye on and I think it would be a good addition.
Transfer Likelihood: 6/10 Expected Impact on the team: 8/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 30
Adrien Rabiot
The PSG midfielder only has one year left on his deal at Paris and he has been mentioned a possible target.
Unai Emery worked with him for the past two seasons and sees the France international as a defensive midfielder, a position Arsenal are looking to strengthen this summer.
Rabiot would tick a lot of boxes, but a lot depends on how his contract talks go with PSG.
Transfer Likelihood: 6/10 Expected Impact on the team: 7.5/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 40
Dennis Praet
Reports in Italy suggest Arsenal have opened ‘concrete talks’ for Dennis Praet.
The 24-year-old Sampdoria midfielder is being chased by several clubs and has a release clause of £22m.
He fueled speculation about a possible exit by writing what some believed was a goodbye message to Sampdoria supporters after the Serie A side’s final game of the season.
Alongside a picture of himself, he wrote: “I want to thank all of the fans for the amazing support this year.”
Arsenal are looking to add a midfielder this summer, possibly two if Aaron Ramsey leaves.
Praet may be on the list, but there are more prominent targets Arsenal are looking at in that position.
Transfer Likelihood: 6/10 Expected Impact on the team: 6.5/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 12
Jan Oblak
The Slovenia international is one of Europe’s most sought after players.
Jan Oblak could be on the move (Image: JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images)
Arsenal fans would love to see the Atletico Madrid keeper arrive this summer, but the potential price tag makes a move to the Emirates highly unlikely.
Liverpool are also believed to be looking at the stopper.
Transfer Likelihood: 5/10 Expected Impact on the team: 10/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 55
Kieran Tierney
Arsenal have been keeping tabs on Tierney for some time now and have failed in a move for the left-back in the past.
There have been suggestions again this summer of a possible move, but with Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac already within the ranks, Arsenal have far more pressing areas of the squad that they need to strengthen.
Transfer Likelihood: 2/10 Expected Impact on the team: 6/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 10
Alex McCarthy
Arsenal were looking at McCarthy when he was coming through the ranks at Reading.
Since leaving Madejski Stadium, McCarthy has gone on to play at QPR and Southampton – where he impressed towards the end last season.
He has one-year left on his deal at St Mary’s and has recently been linked with Spurs.
Arsenal are on the look out for a goalkeeper this summer but it’s highly unlikely to be McCarthy, with Sven Mislintat focusing his attention elsewhere.
Transfer Likelihood: 5/10 Expected Impact on the team: 7.5/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 10
Max Meyer
Arsenal have been very keen on Max Meyer for some time now, with Sven Milslintat hoping to land the German international on a free transfer.
But the midfielder, whose contract is coming to and end with Schalke, appears set to join Hoffenheim.
Transfer Likelihood: 4/10 Expected Impact on the team: 8/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 25
Jonny Evans
Arsenal have had bids turned down for Evans in each of the past two transfer windows.
With West Brom having now been relegated, the Northern Ireland international is available for just £3m and he will make a move back to the Premier League.
Arsenal could revisit a move for Evans, although the fact his agent is demanding a £4m fee as part of the deal is a potential obstacle.
Transfer Likelihood: 6/10 Expected Impact on the team: 6/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 3
Malcom
The Brazilian looked destined for Arsenal in January, but the move never materialised.
He is looking to leave Bordeaux this summer and is said to be on the agenda for both Manchester United and Tottenham.
Arsenal are looking at a wide attacker, but it’s unlikely to be Malcom.
Transfer Likelihood: 5/10 Expected Impact on the team: 6.5/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 45
Corentin Tolisso
This one just isn’t going to happen.
Arsenal were keen on Tolisso before he moved to Bayern Munich last summer.
The midfielder has enjoyed a fine first season in Germany and the Bundesliga champions would not want to sell.
Transfer Likelihood: 3/10 Expected Impact on the team: 10/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 40
Emil Forsberg
Reports in Sweden suggest Forsberg is a top target for Arsenal.
Swedish paper Expressen claims the playmaker, valued at £47m, is being lined up by Unai Emery.
The report states that discussions have taken place between Arsenal and the player’s representatives.
This sounds like agent talk to me. Arsenal have been interested in Forsberg in the past but it’s highly unlikely they will make a move this summer.
There are far more pressing areas of the squad that need improving, given they already have Ozil and Mkhitaryan.
Transfer Likelihood: 6/10 Expected Impact on the team: 7/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 50
Alexander Golovin
The Russian was heavily linked to Arsenal while Arsene Wenger was still in charge.
Wenger was a fan of the CSKA Moscow midfielder, who impressed over two legs against the Gunners in the Europa League.
He is set to star at this summer’s World Cup – which could see his value increase significantly.
A move to a top European club is on the agenda, but it’s unlikely to be Arsenal following Wenger’s departure.
Transfer Likelihood: 4/10 Expected Impact on the team: 6.5/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 10
Nabil Fekir
The links with Fakir go back a long way and the Lyon man does look destined to move to England this summer.
But his destination is likely to be Anfield, not the Emirates – with Arsenal focusing their attention elsewhere.
Transfer Likelihood: 4/10 Expected Impact on the team: 9/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 60
Toby Alderweireld
It couldn’t happen, could it? But if Sol Campbell could make the switch to the better side of London, why the hell not.
The Spurs man is of interest to Arsenal, who would love to bring the Belgium international across north London.
But he still has a year left on his contract at Spurs and they would not consider doing a deal with their near neighbours.
Manchester United looks to be his likely destination.
Transfer Likelihood: 3/10 Expected Impact on the team: 10/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 40
Thomas Lemar
This time last year, much of the talk surrounding Arsenal centred around Thomas Lemar.
Arsene Wenger chased the Monaco man all summer and finally had a £90m bid accepted right at the end of the window, only to run out of time to get a deal done.
Lemar remained at Monaco and is expected to leave this summer, but it’s unlikely Arsenal could afford to bring in the France international.
Transfer Likelihood: 3/10 Expected Impact on the team: 8.5/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): 75
Mario Balotelli
The former Manchester City striker was linked to a move to Arsenal this week, with reports in Italy suggesting the Gunners were keen on a possible free transfer.
I think we can safely put a pin in this one straight away though. Not happening.
Transfer Likelihood: 2/10 Expected Impact on the team: -1/10 Estimated Transfer cost (in million £): NA (Free)
Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and does not reflect the official position of Arsenal Kerala. At AKSC, we believe in encouraging diversity of opinion and are committed to lending a voice to all sections of fans. If you do not agree with the views expressed here and feel compelled to respond through comments on the website or social media, we request that your criticism be fair, polite, on-point and not directed at the author or fellow members who share the same opinion. Thank you. COYG !
