Arsenal transfer news: Gunners star subject of Barcelona talks as goalkeeper agrees switch

Mikel Arteta led Arsenal to a third successive runner-up finish in the Premier League this season and the Gunners are expected to invest during the summer transfer window

Arsenal’s main priority this summer appears to be a new striker, but that isn’t the only area where they’re looking to strengthen. Mikel Arteta’s side finished a distant second behind Liverpool in the Premier League, and are likely to need to make additions just to keep pace with their title rivals next term.

Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are the two strikers most heavily linked, with talks over a Sesko move underway. The RB Leipzig striker won’t come cheap, but those at the club seem to believe he has the quality to lead the line both now and long into the future.

A move for a new striker ought to leave the team better stocked in midfield, with Mikel Merino no longer needed to deputise in attack and Kai Havertz potentially dropping deeper for certain games. A deeper-lying midfielder is still a priority, though, with Martin Zubimendi expected to fill that role.

Mikel Arteta is preparing to lose the likes of Kieran Tierney and Jorginho, while Raheem Sterling and Neto are set to return to their parent clubs. The manager has indicated he’ll have the backing of the board this summer, though, and excitement has been building over new arrivals.

There’s a long way to go before the start of the new season, but we’ve already seen plenty of movement elsewhere and Arsenal could well be next. Here are Mirror Football‘s latest lines from around the Emirates Stadium.

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Barcelona in Partey talks

Barcelona are in talks over a summer move for Thomas Partey, according to The Sun. The Ghana international is out of contract at Arsenal this summer, so could move for nothing.

Partey had been in conversation with Arsenal over an extension. However, with no agreement in place, the Catalan club are said to be exploring a swoop.

The former Atletico Madrid man, who turns 32 in June, was one of Mikel Arteta’s first signings when he joined in the summer of 2020. Arteta has publicly expressed his desire to keep the player around.

Garcia staying in La Liga

Staying with Barcelona, Joan Garcia is set to join Hansi Flick’s club from local rivals Espanyol. Goalkeeper Garcia had been a target for Arsenal in previous windows, with Newcastle also linked.

According to Sport, though, the 24-year-old has reached an agreement with Barca ahead of a £21million switch. The Catalan publication reports that he will become Barcelona’s new keeper next week, once the player returns from a planned holiday.

Wojciech Szczesny and Marc-Andre ter-Stegen have shared goalkeeping duties under Flick next term. Both could yet remain at the club next term and battle it out with Garcia for a starting spot, but the new man is expected to target first-team football from the get-go.

Brighton set Joao Pedro asking price

Brighton won’t accept anything less than £70million for Joao Pedro, The Sun reports. The Brazilian frontman had been mentioned in connection with an Arsenal switch, though Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres still appear to be at the top of the queue.

The 23-year-old joined the Seagulls in a club record deal in the summer of 2023. He has scored 30 goals in 70 appearances for the club, who are said to be under no pressure to sell.

Two of his 10 league goals last term came against Arsenal. He earned Fabian Hurzeler’s side a point against a 10-man Gunners side in August, and also levelled things up in the reverse fixture on the south coast in January.

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