Arsenal transfer news: Mesut Ozil, Nahitan Nandez, Thomas Partey and more

All the latest news, gossip and rumours as Arteta looks to a crucial summer of rebuilding Gunners’ squad

Karl Matchett
Wednesday 29 July 2020 13:28 BST
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With the transfer window open and Arsenal keen to improve, it won’t be a surprise to see them make multiple moves in the market this summer.

If they do, though, it’ll likely be with creative deals and one or two low-cost moves, given the club’s finances are as hard-hit as many other sides’ have been this year.

That will be particularly noticeable with an absence of European football and the prize money it offers—though winning the FA Cup on 1 August would at least put the Gunners back into the Europa League.

Mikel Arteta has work to do to reshape the side and push the Gunners up the table, meaning Raul Sanllehi has a particularly busy couple of months ahead of him.

Here are all the latest transfer rumours regarding the Emirates Stadium club.

Arsenal have had a second bid for Thomas Partey rejected, with Atletico Madrid holding out for the full €50 million in his release clause, reports the Guardian. The Gunners have so far offered €25 million plus a player, with the latest bid including Matteo Guendouzi who is no longer tolerated by Arteta. Arsenal don’t want to pay the release value, so a stand-off has so far ensued.

Perhaps as a direct consequence of that rejected bid for Thomas, Arsenal have been linked with Cagliari midfielder Nahitan Nandez. The Urguayan has been exceptional in Serie A this season and Corriere dello Sport say both Arsenal and Chelsea are talking with the 24-year-old’s representatives over a potential move.

The Gunners could potentially sell Reiss Nelson this summer if they received a good offer. The Athletic report that the Gunners are looking to sell players to raise funds and allow a restructuring of the squad and the winger is one they’d be willing to offload to bring in an alternative instead.

Mikel Arteta does not have Mesut Ozil in his plans and he’ll be “frozen out” at Arsenal until he leaves, reports Sky Sports, with one year left on his £350,000-a-week wages. Ozil’s lack of contribution to the Arsenal cause is a huge concern for the club, who are trying to save money elsewhere and have so far struggled to find suitors for him—with Ozil apparently turning down Fenerbahce.

And finally, centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos has been rumoured to be one of the players Arsenal want to offload, but his agent has branded those claims “fake news” according to Goal.com. The Greek 32-year-old is out of favour under Arteta and there will be renewed competition for places at the back next season, with William Saliba in place and Pablo Mari joining. But Sokratis’ agent said “[Sokratis] will stay. I don’t see a reason to leave”.

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