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Arsenal transfer rumours: 5 players they could sign this summer
It is no secret that Arsenal have needed to rebuild for several years now. The Gunners are no longer a top four club and are instead battling it out with North London rivals Tottenham for the European Conference League. To bring about change, owner Stan Kroenke will need to get his wallet out and spend big, so we’ve scoured the latest Arsenal transfer rumours and found five players that the club are reportedly interested in signing.
Arsenal transfer rumours: 5 players they could sign
Ben White (Brighton and Hove Albion)
Being announced as the replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold in England’s Euro 2020 pushed Ben White firmly into the spotlight and that has meant that transfer rumours have come thick and fast for the defender, including links to Arsenal. With Mikel Arteta eager to make his side more possession-based and bring in more ball carriers, it is only logical for them to be eager to secure White’s signature.
The 23-year-old made 36 appearances for Brighton last reason and adapted to the Premier League with ease after impressing on loan in the Championship for Leeds in 19/20. White is a versatile defender capable of playing as a centre back in a back two or a back three, as a right wingback or simply a right back, and even as a holding midfielder too. He is quick, reads the game well and likes to get forward when the opportunity arises.
If Arteta is looking for a young talent he can mould into a consistent performer for many years to come then White is the man for the job. Brighton’s owner Tony Bloom is known for only selling when the price is right and it is reported a bid in the region of £55million will be required to let their star defender leave the south coast this summer.
Aaron Ramsdale (Sheffield United)
Arsenal are short of a backup goalkeeper. The departure of Emiliano Martinez, who was exceptional for Aston Villa last season, and Maty Ryan signing for Real Sociedad last week after his loan spell from Brighton came to an end, has meant there is no sufficient option to rotate Bernd Leno with.
One name that has been brought up regularly as a potential incoming for the Gunners is Aaron Ramsdale of Sheffield United. The shot-stopper, who was one of the three keepers in the England Euro 2020 squad, was let down massively by his defence last season after the Blades were embarrassingly relegated with weeks left. But despite the fact they were leaking goals, Ramsdale still shone and his leadership, quick reflexes and good presence make him a strong candidate to head to the Emirates. At 23-years-old, Ramsdale will only improve and could push for first-team appearances given that Leno wasn’t in electrifying form in the 2020/21 campaign.
Sheffield United paid Bournemouth £18million for Ramsdale before the last campaign and since being called up to the international squad, that valuation will have increased. According to recent transfer rumours, a bid in the region of £28million is expected to be enough for Arsenal to secure Ramsdale’s signature and have a second keeper on their books that has Premier League experience.
Houssem Aouar (Lyon)
Arsenal have been in the market for a central midfielder for what seems like every transfer window for the past five seasons. Last season they signed Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid and Dani Ceballos on loan from Real Madrid, and this season they could make a mark of intent by signing Houssem Aouar of Lyon.
The French midfielder has been tipped to come to the Premier League for a few seasons now, with most of the ‘Big Six’ interested at some stage. The central midfielder likes to create from deep and his characteristics would probably suit a position in the final third, but playing in the heart of the pitch brings out the best in him.
Aouar glides around the pitch, picking up the ball in pockets of space and creating shooting chances for himself and his teammates. The 23-year-old is also strong defensively, winning headers and using his speed to nip in and intercept oppositions’ attacks.
Despite his immense potential, Aouar is actually a cheap option now as the midfielder only has a year left on his contract and therefore is available for around £25million. But now that figure has been widely reported, Arsenal will need to act quickly to bring him to North London as other clubs will also be interested in such a bargain.
Ruben Neves (Wolves)
Because Ruben Neves was tipped for big things as a teenager it is hard to still recognise him as a young prospect. But at 24, he is hardly old and could be an astute bit of business from the Gunners as Wolves undergo a reshuffle now that former boss Nuno Espirito Santos has departed.
Neves is a true ball-playing midfielder, spending an entire 90 minutes spraying the ball from left to right, short and long. The Portuguese midfielder will rarely be amongst the direct goal contributions, but instead fuelling the attacks from deep and sitting on the edge of the box ready to play the ball back into the feet of creative playmakers.
According to Arsenal transfer rumours, the Gunners are willing to match Wolves’ valuation of £35million for Neves. Alongside Partey, the Gunners will have a really strong core to their midfield and both can cover onrushing fullbacks which will please Arteta. That pair isn’t the most attacking or progressive though so in a three-man midfield then the third would have to be a presence going forward.
Tariq Lamptey (Brighton and Hove Albion)
Chelsea have a habit of releasing some of their talented academy products for next to nothing and then seeing them grow into stars later down the line, and Tariq Lamptey could be another example of that. The pacey fullback made just 11 appearances for Brighton last season but impressed many and could be the ideal replacement for Hector Bellerin, who is pushing for a move to Inter Milan.
Lamptey signed for Brighton for just £3million in January 2020 and extended his contract until 2025 twelve months later after impressing as a right wing-back in Graham Potter’s system. The 20-year-old is one of the fastest players in the league and is as much a presence in the final third as the defensive third, racing down the wing to cause overloads and open up space for crosses to be delivered as well as making recovery runs to help out his centre backs.
Brighton rate Lamptey incredibly highly, but Arsenal also really need a right-back so it isn’t impossible for a big-money bid to be placed. If secured on a long contract then Arteta would have two solid fullbacks for several years and therefore money can be spent elsewhere in future transfer windows.
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