Arsenal have been one of the busiest Premier League clubs in the transfer market this summer.
The Gunners have spent around £250 million to bolster Mikel Arteta's side, bringing in Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Christhian Mosquera, Viktor Gyokeres, and Eberechi Eze.
These exciting new signings will give match-going fans more reason to cheer the Gunners in every game, so resale platforms like Seatsnet.com are likely to see a massive spike in ticket sales.
Despite their remarkable spending spree, Arsenal are still expected to welcome at least one more fresh recruit before the transfer window slams shut.
But over the past week, the Ginners have focused on shifting their deadweight to free up their bloated wage bill, balance their books, and trim Arteta’s squad.
With only a few days left until the end of the transfer market, we look at four potential deals Arsenal could finalise before Monday’s deadline.
Incoming
Piero Empapie – Bayer Leverkusen
Arsenal have heavily reinforced their squad this summer, but they could still sign a new centre-back in the next few days.
According to reports, the Gunners are closing in on a deal for Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie.
They’re expected to sign the Ecuadorian on an initial loan deal with a mandatory purchase clause that will come into play at the end of the season.
The deal is reportedly worth around €52m (£45m) and includes a 10% sell-on clause. Hincapie has already agreed personal terms and would sign a five-year contract once the move becomes permanent.
Hincapie is due in London this weekend to complete his medical before linking up with the rest of Arteta’s squad.
His addition will pave the way for Jakub Kiwior to leave for FC Porto in a transfer worth up to €27m (£23m).
If everything goes according to plan, Hincapie will be the second defender to join Arsenal this summer after Cristhian Mosquera, who was brought in from Valencia.
The Ecuador international will also become Arsenal’s eighth summer signing, which is a clear indication that the board is sparing no expense in their quest to finally land the elusive Premier League title.
Hincapie operates primarily as a left centre-back in a back three, so it’ll be interesting to see how he slots into Arteta’s plans, although he can also cover at left back when required.
Outgoings
Oleksandr Zinchenko – Marseille
After spending a fortune to strengthen Arteta’s squad, Arsenal are now shifting their attention to offloading deadweight.
According to reports, Olympique Marseille are in advanced talks to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Both sides are locked in talks to find an agreement before Monday’s deadline, with Marseille pushing to sign the Ukrainian defender on a permanent deal.
However, his wage demands could be a major stumbling block.
Zinchenko joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022 for £30m and wasted no time establishing himself as a key part of Arteta’s set-up.
He made over 60 appearances in his first two seasons and helped the Gunners challenge his former employers for the Premier League title.
However, he has fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium, with Arteta preferring academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly and Riccardo Calafiori ahead of Zinchenko.
The Ukrainian international has just 12 months left on his contract, and Arsenal are determined to cash in to avoid losing him on a free transfer next summer.
He has been left out of Arsenal’s opening two Premier League games this season, and the 28-year-old is set to call time on his time in North London.
Reiss Nelson – Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace are lining up a move for Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson after Fulham stepped back from negotiations.
The 25-year-old looked close to joining the Cottagers earlier this summer, but talks collapsed as both parties failed to see eye to eye on financial details.
That has opened the door for Palace to step up their efforts and move ahead in the race to sign Nelson.
They have opened talks with the player’s representatives and are hoping to finalise a deal in the coming days.
Oliver Glasner’s side are already closing in on Villarreal’s Yeremy Pino in a £20m deal. Pino is seen as a replacement for Eze, but Palace are looking to add more firepower to their frontline.
They’re ready to pay around £15m for Nelson, although they still have some work to do to agree personal terms with the Englishman.
Nelson was once considered one of the finest talents to come through Arsenal’s infamous academy, but injuries and competition for places prevented him from making his mark at his boyhood club.
He has made 90 appearances across all competitions for the Gunners, but only started 35.
The 25-year-old forward wants to join a club that can guarantee him regular first-team football, and Palace are hoping to lure him to Selhurst Park.
Jakub Kiwior – Porto
Jakub Kiwior is set to leave Arsenal before the transfer window closes. The Polish defender has already agreed personal terms with Porto, who are ready to take him on loan.
The initial loan deal will include a mandatory purchase clause worth around £22.5m. With Arsenal on the cusp of landing Hincapie’s signature, Kiwior could finalise his exit from Arsenal in the coming days.
Kiwior joined Arsenal as a young centre-back with plenty of promise, but he found it difficult to displace Arteta’s established centre-back pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
The Polish international initially struggled to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League. But he grew into the role eventually and became a reliable cover at centre-back.
Last season, he stepped in when Gabriel was sidelined with an injury and hardly looked out of place.
He received plenty of praise for his performances, but that wasn’t enough to earn him more consistent playing time. He would be able to get that at Porto, which makes the move more appealing.
Last season, Kiwior featured 30 times across all competitions. He played 17 times in the Premier League, although he was named in the starting line-up just 10 times.
Kiwior has made 68 appearances for Arsenal but has yet to feature this season.
He was left out of the opening day squad against Manchester United and was an unused substitute in the 5-0 thrashing of Leeds United on matchday two.
