When the transfer window reopens for business after a short break, Arsenal fans will start demanding to see action.
After all, if you stand still in the Premier League, you go backwards, and with Liverpool and Manchester City acting early this summer, the Gunners are already playing catch-up.
So what is the delay and what deals can Mikel Arteta’s side get over the line before pre-season begins and they head to Asia on tour?
Zubimendi deal is stalling
Reports of Martin Zubimendi’s medical are now more than a fortnight gone, with Arsenal’s £51m pursuit of the Real Sociedad midfielder evidently stalling.
Real Madrid were said to be interested in the Spaniard, but reports in Spain claim the La Liga giants are now looking at alternatives.
This should free up Arsenal in their pursuit, but the slow nature of this deal is unlikely to give supporters much hope of a speedy resolution to the area they need to address above all: signing a new No 9.
The latest on Arsenal’s striker hunt
Benjamin Sesko: RB Leipzig’s 22-year-old striker appeared to be Arsenal’s top target, but the Slovenian is now attracting interest from Bayern Munich, according to Bild in Germany.
Bayern view Sesko as a long-term successor to Harry Kane and could therefore derail Arsenal’s own bid for the £75m-rated forward.
Viktor Gyokeres: The Sporting Lisbon striker could now move ahead of Sesko in terms of feasibility amid reports the 27-year-old would prefer to play for Arsenal over Manchester United. Gyokeres would be a more ready-made forward, and could cost around €80m (£68m).
Could Arsenal pursue alternatives?
Ollie Watkins: If Arsenal fail to land Sesko or Gyokeres, they may renew their pursuit of Aston Villa and England striker Ollie Watkins. The Gunners wanted the 29-year-old in January, but Villa were not willing to listen to any offers after selling Jhon Duran.
Alexander Isak: This one might be impossible, with Newcastle United expected to demand north of £150m. Arsenal would shatter the British record in doing so, but the only chance of Isak being linked with a move is if the Sesko and Gyokeres pursuits fall flat.
Joao Pedro: A cheaper alternative? Barely. The Brighton striker could cost £60m with The i Paper noting Newcastle’s interest as well as Chelsea’s.
Is this the defining transfer of the title race?
If defences alone win Premier League titles then Arsenal would have won the last two.
They haven’t, of course, and such “what-ifs” are beginning to cast a dark cloud over the Arteta era should he eventually leave with one FA Cup to show for his efforts.
Arsenal simply didn’t score enough last season. In 2023-24 their league tally of 91 was just five shy of champions Manchester City, but in 2024-25 their return of 69 was 17 less than Liverpool’s.
And that is what makes this pursuit for a striker so key. Get it right and Arsenal could find themselves the team to beat as they look to end a 21-year wait for Premier League glory.
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It is set to become the defining transfer of the title race, although Liverpool and City would both like to disagree.
The arrival of Florian Wirtz for a British record could give Liverpool a player many in Germany believe to be a generational talent.
City, meanwhile, have spread their money across three signings already, with Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders all joining.
Attacking midfielder Cherki is the standout here. The 21-year-old arrives for £30.5m from Lyon – that is roughly a quarter of what Wirtz cost Liverpool – and could boast the creativity levels required to soften the blow of losing Kevin De Bruyne.
What about wide players?
In pursuit of balance, Arsenal are after a left-sided attacker to counter Bukayo Saka’s threat down the right.
Nico Williams is highly coveted and Arsenal face competition for Athletic Bilbao’s 22-year-old left winger, who scored for Spain in the Euro 2024 final victory over England.
Once again, Bayern have been linked, so too Barcelona, while Arsenal could look to sign Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, primarily a right winger capable of playing on the left.
Another name in the ring is Rafael Leao, but as ever in the summer transfer circus, Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus, and yes Bayern again are all said to be monitoring the AC Milan winger.
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