Arsenal’s transfer activity has ramped up in recent days. Having secured the signings of William Saliba and Dani Ceballos, the Gunners now appear to be accelerating moves for more expensive players.
Arsenal ‘quietly confident’ of sealing Zaha and Tierney deals
Arsenal are quietly optimistic of bringing in Tierney, Wilfried Zaha and possibly one other player (probably a central defender). Medley is also set to be promoted to the first team [Independent]. #AFC #Arsenal pic.twitter.com/J3cgsBxY5t
— Fresh Arsenal (@Fresh_Arsenal) July 26, 2019
According to The Independent, Arsenal remain quietly confident of signing both Wilfried Zaha and Kieran Tierney. The Gunners pursuit of both players has been in the public eye for some time, with two bids knocked back for the Celtic left-back and an initial £40million rejected by Crystal Palace for Zaha.
In the report, Miguel Delaney also suggests that the club are looking to sign ‘one other’ as well as Tierney and Zaha. You would think that would be a defender, considering the clubs lack of quality in that area.
The Gunners may need to sell the likes of Mohammed Elneny, Calum Chambers and Laurent Koscielny to raise funds for a new central defender to arrive, though.
Arsenal make £36m bid for Zaha ‘alternative’, Everton Soares
Elsewhere, The Mirror report Arsenal are looking elsewhere as they cannot afford to sign Zaha. They claim the club have made a £36million bid for Brazil and Copa America star Everton Soares. The winger impressed in the summer tournament and aged just 23, could be a coup if the Gunners manage to secure his signature.
Arsenal and Liverpool amongst clubs prepared to pay €80million for Nicolas Pepe
According to reports in Italy and France, Arsenal, Inter, Napoli and Liverpool are prepared to pay £70million for Nicolas Pepe. The winger will choose his next club before the end of next week. #AFC pic.twitter.com/7QkG0JEC9K
— Fresh Arsenal (@Fresh_Arsenal) July 26, 2019
L’Equipe are one of a number of sources in France to be running with the story of Arsenal’s interest in winger Nicolas Pepe. They say the Gunners, Liverpool, Inter Milan and Napoli are all prepared to pay £71million for Pepe and the player will choose his club next week. Considering Arsenal’s reluctance to get close to Palace’s £80million valuation of Zaha, I doubt their willingness to pay £71million for Pepe, unless the deal is broken down into several instalments.
Time is running out for the club to sign the ‘big expensive’ players they promised, but it does seem like a new big-money winger will be arriving. Whether that is Zaha, Pepe, Everton or someone else, time will tell!