Mikel Arteta could sanction a marquee Arsenal exit before the summer window ends, but in doing so could welcome at least one new signing. The Gunners have mostly focused on signing new players to build on the foundations laid last season but their £200million-plus spend has now resulted in sealing departures emerging as the main priority.
Edu and Arteta have thus far welcomed Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice and David Raya to the club this summer and it currently looks as though no more arrivals will occur. However, with Folarin Balogun on the verge of joining Monaco in a £38million deal along with the future of Gabriel Magalhaes and Emile Smith Rowe being up in the air, that could change.
The Brazil international has not started a Premier League game so far this season with Ben White moving into the centre of defence in his place and Thomas Partey shifting to right-back. Even with Jurrien Timber out with an injury, Oleksandr Zinchenko recovering from his own issue and Takehiro Tomiyasu’s suspension, Jakub Kiwior was still preferred to Gabriel in defence in the 2-2 draw with Fulham which has only furthered those exit links.
While it appears as though Gabriel will not leave, after Arteta’s firm verdict that he has a part to play this season, the same cannot be said for Smith Rowe after Chelsea’s interest in the attacker became known on earlier this week. As per a new report by the Mail, the Blues have now received an answer from Arsenal in regard to the Smith Rowe links with their interest being knocked back.
However, it also states that ‘an offer way above market value’ could change that stance with the idea of a swap deal taking place something that Chelsea have shown a willingness to. Havertz has already completed the switch across London and more could follow if the Gunners and Chelsea agree to take that route with Smith Rowe’s transfer.
With that said, football.london has taken a look at three players Arsenal could request to include in a Smith Rowe swap deal with Chelsea.
After everything that took place in the Mykhailo Mudryk January transfer window saga, the Ukraine international signing for Arsenal seven months after snubbing them for Chelsea is largely unthinkable.
However it is not out of the realms of possibility and it is a swap deal that some Arsenal fans wouldn’t be against. The Blues may also think they are getting the better end of the deal with Smith Rowe as a Premier League proven player and Mudryk struggling to make a strong impression during his first year at Stamford Bridge.
Trevoh Chalobah
Bayern Munich are already in talks to sign Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea, however a fresh development in the Smith Rowe saga could stop that deal from happening.
Arsenal are still in need of some defensive cover after the injury to Jurrien Timber and Chalobah, while not an inverted option, can play at full-back. The Blues setting a £50million price tag could make a straight swap difficult with Smith Rowe likely seen as more valuable by Arsenal given their ‘above market’ price tag stance.