Arsenal can finally announce first summer signing as Edu steps up transfer plans

July brings with it the freedom for clubs to explore transfers in a new Profit and Sustainability Regulation (PSR) cycle. Arsenal have continued to comply with the rules meaning there was no scramble like that seen at Newcastle, Everton and Aston Villa to complete deals.

The Gunners are yet to sign any players for the senior side during the window with only Lucas Nygaard joining the youth team having been on trial as a free agent. There is certainly ambition to strengthen and football.london has been told that the club are confident the squad will be stronger come the close of the market.

There is an expectation that a first summer signing should be announced soon. The Gunners had the option to make David Raya’s move to the club permanent after an initial £3million loan fee included a purchase option clause of £27million.

football.london understands there are expected to be no surprises in the deal and that this quiet period has coincided with the PSR deadline and the move can instead be factored into the next cycle of deals. Raya is also currently away on international duty with Spain at the European Championships as La Roja have progressed to the quarter-finals where they will play hosts Germany.

Despite this freedom opening up for Arsenal, there is not a feeling that a Declan Rice-style deal which would involve a triple-million-pound figure being invested is expected. Arsenal have a whole host of surplus talent that they would also like to sell although as has been the case for many years this comes with its own Arsenal-specific challenges.

Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe, Jakub Kiwior, Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Thomas Partey, Sambi Lokonga, Kieran Tierney, Nuno Tavares, Charlie Patino, Mika Biereth, Aaron Ramsdale and Fabio Vieira have all been linked with potential exits.

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Should Arsenal raise considerable funds from these players, then it could allow them greater financial freedom to invest but that may need to wait until later in the window. In addition, the Gunners have needs in multiple areas.

Therefore any investment will of course be spread across the squad rather than heavily concentrated into one area like it was with Rice and Kai Havertz last summer. There is also a lack of standout candidates unlike in previous summers too and that means the likelihood of a marquee move becomes even slimmer.

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For now, things remain quiet but with July here and the Euros and Copa America reaching their conclusion in just over a fortnight that is expected to change. Some early business is what Mikel Arteta has already admitted he hopes for, the club now have to deliver.