Arsenal's Balogun lined up to replace Chelsea misfit as Rice failure lamented

17 July 2023 , 03:00

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Folarin Balogun has been linked with a move away from Arsenal (Image: Getty Images)

Arsenal have been one of the busiest Premier League clubs in the transfer window so far, with three players already through the door at the Emirates Stadium.

Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice have joined for a combined fee of over £200million as Mikel Arteta tries to get his squad ready for their return to the Champions League. Although the Gunners could secure more incomings, they are expected to offload players to balance the books and free up more funds.

Folarin Balogun and Kieran Tierney are amongst the players that could depart the club before the end of the window, while Thomas Partey has also been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

In the meantime, Arsenal have jetted off to the United States for a pre-season tour. They are set for three friendlies against MLS All-Stars, Manchester United and Barcelona.

Here are the latest rumours from the Emirates Stadium.

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Inter want Balogun

Folarin Balogun, 22, will find it difficult to get into Arsenal's starting XI this coming season due to the arrival of Kai Havertz - not to mention the presence of Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard.

Mikel Arteta has already hinted Balogun will be sold.

A number of clubs will interested in the United States international, who is rated at £51.5m, after he scored 22 goals during a loan spell at Reims last season.

Inter Milan are believed to be one of those clubs after their talks with Romelu Lukaku broke down, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Tierney keen on Celtic return

Kieran Tierney's Arsenal future has looked in doubt since the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko a year ago.

The Scotland international, 26, made just five Premier League starts last season and is likely to complete a transfer if Mikel Arteta can't offer him regular first-team football. It's believed Arsenal want £35m for Tierney, who is a transfer target for Newcastle.

Kieran Tierney could leave Arsenal this summer (Getty Images)

The Gunners will not sell the left-back on the cheap because he still has three years left on his contract. Celtic are also keen on re-signing Tierney... but only on loan.

Ex-Scotland coach Peter Grant, who has worked with Tierney before, believes the player would be interested in a return to Parkhead. Tierney won eight trophies - including four Scottish Premiership titles - during his first spell with Celtic.

As quoted by the Daily Record, Grant told The Go Radio Football Show: "I look at Kieran Tierney and I think it will be a football decision and not a financial decision. That is the hope that you have. He's the type of player that would want to come back to Celtic."

Tuchel laments Bayern's Rice failure

Thomas Tuchel has lamented Bayern Munich's failure to sign Rice, after the midfielder completed a record move to Arsenal on Saturday afternoon.

Everton chiefs face transfer backlash from fans after deadline day disaster

He said: "It could have been an interesting addition to have a player with his character in the squad.

"He’s a good player and he went to a good club. He has a profile that I don’t think we have in the squad. It could be interesting to have it."

Kieran King