Arsenal’s signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko lifted them to the top of the Premier League spending charts for the second summer running.
After splurging £150m on an array of talent this time last year, thregardingve splashed just shy of £120m on five new arrivals ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
While 2021/22 ultimately ended in disappointment for Mikel Arteta’s men, the campaign was hugely promising in regard to the overriding project that’s well underway in north London. The vast majority of last summer’s signings were undoubted successes. Such proficiency in the transfer market has continued into 2022 with many regarding Gabriel Jesus and Zinchenko as two of the smartest and safest deals of the summer.
Arsenal are following the Manchester City model of having two stellar options at each position and while they’re not there yet, they’re not too far off either.
The club certainly aren’t done in the transfer market. Although, outgoings are set to be prioritised to facilitate more incomings later in the window. Thus, we shouldn’t expect Arsenal to be too active on the transfer front ahead of next Friday’s season opener against Crystal Palace, but there’s no doubting that the club will be exploring options at two key positions of need.
4 players Arsenal could still sign before the end of the transfer window
Arsenal could certainly do with a player comfortable operating on the left-side of a midfield three, as well as a versatile forward capable of challenging the likes of Bukayo Saka for regular first-team minutes. A Raphinha alternative, essentially.
Here are four players Arsenal could still sign this summer.
1. Youri Tielemans

No, we don’t know what’s going on with Tielemans either. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
We’re approaching the end of July and Tielemans’ situation at Leicester remains unresolved. The Belgian is heading into the final year of his deal at the King Power and he isn’t exactly keen on penning an extension with the Foxes.
Leicester, meanwhile, are in no haste to sell their star midfielder.
The player is reportedly keen on a move to Arsenal with various outlets suggesting that personal terms have already been agreed between Tielemans and the Gunners. He’s available for £30m, too, but Arsenal are yet to make their move.
The club’s hesitance is strange considering that the Belgian is a profile Mikel Arteta would love in midfield. He’s an excellent passer who can operate in multiple zones and perform several different functions in a possession-oriented side.
However, you get the impression that Arsenal merely need to click to get their hands on Tielemans, and this move could happen once the club get a couple off their books.
Continued on the next slide…
Zinchenko as two of the smartest and safest deals of the summer.</p>
<p>Arsenal are following the Manchester City model of having two stellar options at each position and while they’re not there yet, they’re not too far off either.</p>
<p>The club certainly aren’t done in the transfer market. Although, outgoings are set to be prioritised to facilitate more incomings later in the window. Thus, we shouldn’t expect Arsenal to be too active on the transfer front ahead of next Friday’s season opener against Crystal Palace, but there’s no doubting that the club will be exploring options at two key positions of need.</p>
<h2>4 players Arsenal could still sign before the end of the transfer window</h2>
<p>Arsenal could certainly do with a player comfortable operating on the left-side of a midfield three, as well as a versatile forward capable of challenging the likes of Bukayo Saka for regular first-team minutes. A Raphinha alternative, essentially.</p>
<p>Here are four players Arsenal could still sign this summer.</p>
<h2>1. Youri Tielemans</h2>
<div id="attachment_122607" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-122607" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/25/4-players-arsenal-still-sign-this-summer/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2195,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1348504348.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Youri" width="3200" height="2195" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1348504348.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1348504348-768x527.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">No, we don’t know what’s going on with Tielemans either. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)</p>
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<p>We’re approaching the end of July and Tielemans’ situation at Leicester remains unresolved. The Belgian is heading into the final year of his deal at the King Power and he isn’t exactly keen on penning an extension with the Foxes.</p>
<p>Leicester, meanwhile, are in no haste to sell their star midfielder.</p>
<p>The player is reportedly keen on a move to Arsenal with various outlets suggesting that personal terms have already been agreed between Tielemans and the Gunners. He’s available for £30m, too, but Arsenal are yet to make their move.</p>
<p>The club’s hesitance is strange considering that the Belgian is a profile Mikel Arteta would love in midfield. He’s an excellent passer who can operate in multiple zones and perform several different functions in a possession-oriented side.</p>
<p>However, you get the impression that Arsenal merely need to click to get their hands on Tielemans, and this move could happen once the club get a couple off their books.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/25/4-players-arsenal-still-sign-this-summer/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 player Arsenal could still sign </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>2. Cody Gakpo</h2>
<div id="attachment_124741" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-124741" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/25/4-players-arsenal-still-sign-this-summer/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1239098851.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Gak" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1239098851.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1239098851-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal have reignited their interest in the Dutch forward. (Photo by Photo Prestige/Soccrates/Getty Images)</p>
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<p>Arsenal were linked with a move for Gakpo earlier in the window before they prioritised a deal for Raphinha which, of course, didn’t materialise.</p>
<p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/25/4-players-arsenal-still-sign-this-summer/"https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/transfer-news/arsenal-cody-gakpo-transfer-priority-24559537">Links to the Dutchman resurfaced last week</a>, but it’ll take plenty to snatch him away from PSV, who don’t want to sell the young forward – or any of their players for that matter – before their Champions League qualifier with Monaco at the start of August.</p>
<p>Thus, Arsenal may have to be patient and pay a pretty penny to sign Gakpo, but if the Dutchman is who Arteta wants, then I’m sure Edu will try his utmost to charm the Dutch giants.</p>
<p>While he differs stylistically from Raphinha, Gakpo would be considered an alternative to the Brazilian. The Dutch international can play across the front line and is r<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/25/4-players-arsenal-still-sign-this-summer/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/15/4-wingers-arsenal-target-summer/2/">evered for his powerful ball-carrying and leadership skills</a>.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/25/4-players-arsenal-still-sign-this-summer/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 player Arsenal could still sign </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>3. Leroy Sane</h2>
<div id="attachment_127829" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-127829" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/25/4-players-arsenal-still-sign-this-summer/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1391330081.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1391330081.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1391330081-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">We can dream, right? (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)</p>
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<p>Okay, this one drifts into the Serge Gnabry realm of fantasy, but it does make <em>some</em> sense.</p>
<p>While he’s been productive in the Bundesliga, Sane hasn’t quite caught fire as many suspected after he made the switch from Manchester City in 2020. Although, he was coming off a torn ACL so initial expectations were tempered somewhat.</p>
<p>The German international impressed in patches last season, but Gnabry’s contract extension and Sadio Mane’s arrival means the Bavarian giants can afford to part ways with Sane. It was reported that they would <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/25/4-players-arsenal-still-sign-this-summer/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/18/arsenal-targeting-ambitious-move-bayern-sane/">entertain offers in the region of £60m </a>and Arsenal are believed to have shown an interest.</p>
<p>Whether the German international would be willing to sacrifice indefinite domestic success at the Allianz Arena for a Europa League outfit remains to be seen, but the player’s healthy relationship with Mikel Arteta could aid Arsenal if they were to match Bayern’s hefty but not outlandish valuation.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/25/4-players-arsenal-still-sign-this-summer/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #4 player Arsenal could still sign </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>4. Lucas Paqueta</h2>
<div id="attachment_127741" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-127741" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/25/4-players-arsenal-still-sign-this-summer/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2132,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1240673487.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2132" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1240673487.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1240673487-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Edu is an admirer of Lucas Paqueta. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)</p>
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<p>While more reliable sources poured cold water on just how advanced Arsenal were in their pursuit of Lyon’s Paqueta, it appears that the club most certainly boast an interest.</p>
<p>Paqueta is an alternative to Tielemans in that he’s a creative midfielder capable of performing a variety of roles. He’ll slot in nicely as a left-sided #8 in Arteta’s 4-3-3, but he’s also adept at playing as a #10.</p>
<p>The crafty Brazilian aligns with the manager’s vision of cultivating a team capable of overwhelming teams through tenacity without the ball and technical brilliance with it. But, this would certainly be a <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/25/4-players-arsenal-still-sign-this-summer/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/11/3-reasons-arsenal-should-avoid-lucas-paqueta/">riskier piece of business</a> compared to signing the Premier League-proven Tielemans.</p>
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<p>Paqueta would cost more than the Belgian with Lyon seemingly willing to see the back of the midfielder for the right price. They value the 24-year-old at approximately £50m. If Arsenal are willing to splash the cash, this is a deal that could get done.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">