Arsenal open talks to sign 32-year-old Premier League star - Reports
Arsenal are reportedly keen on signing Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of June. City want Gundogan to stay, but his relationship with former Sky Blues assistant and current Gunners' manager Mikel Arteta may help turn the player's head.
Spanish outlet Marca suggest that Arsenal are looking to add experience to their midfield amidst reports of Granit Xhaka's exit. The Gunners signed Jorginho from Chelsea in January but are keen to take a punt at Gundogan, who will become a free agent soon.
The report adds that Gundogan, 32, will have four options this summer, with Arsenal being one of them. He could also choose to stay or explore options abroad, with Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona also keen on signing the German midfielder. However, the Gunners are looking to add Gundogan to their ranks, as Arteta believes he would help them 'take a leap in quality'.
With UEFA Champions League football beckoning next season, the Gunners will look to strengthen their squad over the summer.
Arsenal speed up process to land Declan Rice
Following West Ham United's remarkable triumph in the UEFA Conference League final over Fiorentina, all the attention has turned to their captain Declan Rice.
The midfielder has long been linked with a move away from the club, with Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Chelsea emerging as possible destinations. However, it appears that the Gunners have stolen a march on their rivals.
As per Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph, the Gunners will look to acquire Rice in a deal worth £92 million. How the north Londoners structure the deal will be crucial, as the report says West Ham would prefer receiving most of the fee upfront.
Chairman David Sullivan would be keen to get the deal for Rice sorted out soon as he has a gentleman's agreement not to stand in the player's way should a respectable offer come through.
The money West Ham would receive would also help them plan and make moves in the transfer market to add squad depth ahead of the new season. It will be interesting to see whether the Gunners pull off what would be a club-record transfer relatively early in the window, benefitting both parties.