Arsenal transfer news latest: William Saliba, Ryan Fraser, Wilfried Zaha, Dani Ceballos, Kieran Tierney, Mesut Ozil

Unai Emery is looking to overhaul his squad this summer but it could take a number of players to leave before new faces arrive

Jack de Menezes
Monday 08 July 2019 16:41 BST
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Transfer deadline day summer 2019: The deals done so far

Arsenal are apparently set to seal the signing of William Saliba from St Etienne.

Unai Emery is desperate to overhaul his squad this summer but only has in the region of £40million to spend.

That is making things tricky but the Evening Standard report they have agreed a £25m deal that will see the 18-year-old stay in France for the season on loan.

The French club have been adamant all along that Saliba wouldn't be leaving for at least 12 months.

And this way, with the Gunners paying a small initial fee, Emery keeps the vast majority of his budget for other targets while also tying down Saliba.

Arsenal’s ongoing interest in Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha is yet to reach anything close to a breakthrough, so much so that the club are ready to switch targets back to Ryan Fraser.

The club were keen on signing the Scotland international earlier in the summer for a fee around £25m before switching their attentions towards Zaha. But Palace’s hardball line combined with Arsenal’s extremely low offer has caused a change of heart among the club’s hierarchy, according to the Sunday Mirror.

The report claims that Arsenal are ready to go back in for Fraser this month, only if Zaha is out of their reach​.Zaha meanwhile has broken his silence on reports linking him with a move away from Palace after the club swiftly rejected a £40m offer for him.

“The only thing that's on my mind right now is trying to win this cup,” said Zaha, who scored twice as Ivory Coast qualified for the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations.

When pressed on whether he wanted to play for Arsenal, he added: “I don't know. We'll see in the future.”

The forward then said on Twitter: “Whatever happened to speaking facts? It's sad and annoying how anyone will just open their mouth and speak on things or situations they know absolutely nothing about.”

Zaha is desperate to join Arsenal (Getty Images)

Another alternative to Zaha is Barcelona’s Malcom. The Gunners came close to signing the 22-year-old Brazilian last summer and have been offered the opportunity to do so again after a stuttering season with the Spanish champions.

Kieran Tierney remains a very real option for Arsenal this summer but should they not get a deal over the line they've been offered an alternative.

The Express claim that the Gunners have been offered the chance to sign Ricardo Rodriguez from AC Milan.

The Swiss international doesn't feature in new boss Marco Giampaolo's plans with a deal apparently there to be done around £14m.

That would represent a much cheaper option than Tierney with Celtic holding out for closer to £25m for the Scottish international.

There could be worse news in the shape of Dani Ceballos, however.

Ceballos could leave Real Madrid this summer (REUTERS)

Reports in Spain suggest that Tottenham have stolen a march in the race for his signature and are closing in on a deal.

The 22-year-old shone for Spain at the European Under-21 Championship in Italy and with Real Madrid looking to shift some of their fringe players could be available for a figure in the region of £44m.

However, today's reports claim a loan deal is in the offing with the option to buy at the end of the season.

Defender Shkodran Mustafi may finally be on his way out too after the Germany international removed all mention of the club from his Instagram profile.

Mustafi is not part of Unai Emery’s long-term future at Arsenal after falling behind Sokratis and Laurent Koscielny at centre-back, and he even started the campaign behind young English defender Rob Holding before his season-ending knee injury.

Mustafi could be on his way out (Getty)

The club are open to selling Mustafi this summer, and the 27-year-old has dropped the biggest hint yet that he is on his way out by removing all mention of the club from his Instagram account.

Not only has Mustafi changed the profile picture of him in an Arsenal kit, but he has also removed “Arsenal player” from his bio, triggering speculation that a summer exit will be announced imminently.

Mesut Ozil could also be on his way out and on his way to Turkey.

Reports there suggest that the Gunners are willing to let the German leave and are willing to pay some of his wages to subsidise his exit.

An initial loan followed by a permanent move is apparently in the offing.

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