07 July 2023 , 03:00
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Arsenal are on the cusp of completing two major summer deals as they close on Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber.
The pair are set to cost the Gunners close to £150m and more arrivals could yet follow them. Mikel Arteta is looking to build on a promising season with the club also returning to the Champions League, which will place further demands on their resources.
Last term Arteta chose to work with a relatively small squad but injuries quickly took their toll, especially in defence. Several names are expected to leave, Granit Xhaka among them, leaving Arsenal in need of players who can make a major impact in the first-team.
These are the last rumours from the Emirates.
Timber limitations detailed
Dutch legend Wesley Sneijder is worried Timber will struggle in the Premier League because he "loses every header".
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush
Timber, 22, is on the verge of completing a £38.7million move to Arsenal after winning several team and individual honours with Ajax. The Gunners will pay £34.3m up front for the Netherlands international, 22, with a further £4.3m coming in add-ons.
Timber will become one of the smallest centre-backs in the Premier League at 5ft 10 inches. Although Sneijder thinks Timber is a "really good defender", he's concerned the incoming Arsenal star will struggle in the air against English football's biggest strikers. Timber is set to become the second smallest centre-back in the Premier League behind Lisandro Martinez
Read more here.
Blues hold Balogun talks
Chelsea are reportedly held shock talks regarding a move for Folarin Balogun.
Last term the forward firmly put himself on the map in Europe after thriving whilst on loan in France with Reims. Opportunities have been few and far between at the Emirates and, as a result, he could seek pastures new.
Clubs are queueing up to land Balogun's signature with AC Milan, Inter Milan, Marseille, Monaco and RB Leipzig among them. But he could yet remain in the Premier League after Football Transfers claimed that Chelsea have also spoken to the player’s representatives.
Arsenal push for Frimpong
The Gunners are ready to ramp up their interest in Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong.
The full-back, 22, who used to play for Celtic, is also on the radar of Manchester United and Bayern Munich but the Express reports that Frimpong is high up on Arsenal's shortlist with talks being held, but no bid yet tabled.
Leverkusen have set a £42.7m price tag for Frimpong, which would further Arsenal's busy and expensive summer. The north Londoners have previously attempted to do business with the German club having eyed winger Moussa Diaby.