Arsenal transfer news: The latest Gunners media briefing from the Emirates Stadium with reaction to stories on Mohammed Kudus, Gabriel Jesus and Marcelo Flores
Arsenal are still trying to cash in on players throughout their squad this summer as they look to build toward generating funds that can help fuel a late-window transfer push.
USMNT duo Folarin Balogun and Matt Turner are the obvious candidates to leave with both players of serious interest to clubs across the continent, but more importantly they have already had bids made for them. Turner appears to be on the verge of joining Nottingham Forest in a deal that could see David Raya join Arsenal from Brentford.
Balogun himself has had offers come in but a £50million ($64m) valuation has so far proved to be too steep for those looking to make him their new striker. It is proving harder to sell those that have struggled to make an impact in recent times. Nicolas Pepe is not likely to generate a transfer fee while Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga are not easily budged.
That has opened up the possibility of losing academy youngster Marcelo Flores. The 19-year-old joined the club from Ipswich in 2019 and spent last season on loan at Real Oviedo where he struggled to make an impact. Now it is said that he has offers to leave the club.
Having impressed for the club’s Under-21 side since moving, Flores has seen his reputation rise with Real Betis one of the sides said to be interested in picking him up. With two years left to go on his current deal there is plenty of time and options available to Flores as three Liga MX teams are also circling.
Mexican outfit Chivas are one of the teams in for him with Necaxa and Atletico San Luis also reportedly keen on him having spotted his talents. Born in Canda but of Mexican international allegiance, Arsenal could look to make the most of heavy interest in Flores to generate some funds they can spend elsewhere.
football.london says: It wouldn’t be the biggest transer fee ever for such a young player with little top flight experience but Flores is struggling to make a breakthrough at Arsenal and every little helps.
He got his first call-up for the senior side in April 2022Â and hasn’t managed to go any further since then and has seen his international opportunities dry up as well. Since his club debut he has only featured twice for Mexico and will be hoping to get back into the fold as quickly as possible.
Betis have a strong record of bringing through Mexican players, only enhancing the attraction of a move to Spain, but Flores could also find a home in Mexico as he looks to continue his development.
“I would like to make my Premier League debut before I turn 19, that’s my goal,” he said in March 2022. That has proved to be a step too far for Flores and with the strength of Arsenal’s attacking options, it would be a big surprise to see him making the breakthrough anytime soon.
Not that they would be directly related but Arsenal also look set to lose out in the attacking department with another deal too. According to The Athletic, Mohammed Kudus has reached an agreement to join Brighton this summer for around £35million ($44m).
Having first emerged as a target for Arsenal earlier in the window, the versatile Ghana forward has become a player of immense interest across the Premier League. Chelsea made serious moves toward agreeing personal terms while the Gunners sounded out the first offer for the 22-year-old.
Manchester United also expressed their admiration for the Ajax star, but it looks like the Seagulls have stepped in to seal a move for the exciting attacker.
football.london says: Kudus to Arsenal talks all went very quiet some weeks ago but this will no doubt still be a blow for Arsenal. They had identified one of the most promising young players on the continent, exactly the type of signing they have become accustomed to making in the past two years, and will have to watch on as he goes elsewhere.
As a versatile player capable of playing across the frontline and also in a deeper midfield role, Kudus’ speed and immense dribbling atttributes make him one to watch for the new season. He certainly fits the bill for Arteta and the profile of player he has been after, mixing explosive movements with excellent ball control in tight areas.
Given the injury to Gabriel Jesus, who has come off the right of an attack in the past as well as centrally and dropping deep into space, Kudus was a near perfect option to play deputy in a number of roles as well as dovetailing with Jesus when needed.
Seeing the pair in the same team would have been quite the sight to behold but they will now have to make plans for stopping Kudus rather than using him.
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