At A Glance:
- Arsenal are still fighting on three fronts this season.
- Their midfield has been identified as an area in need of reinforcements this summer.
- A prospective move for a Premier League midfielder, however, has been a dealt a hammer blow.
Despite still fighting on three fronts this season, Mikel Arteta and Arsenal are looking ahead to the summer transfer window as a means of strengthening their ranks for 2026/27.
The Gunners may have fluffed their first chance at silverware earlier this month, losing the Carabao Cup final 2-0 to Manchester City, but they are still top of the Premier League.
Alongside that, Arteta and his men have found themselves in the quarter-finals of both the FA Cup and the Champions League.
Read More: Atletico Madrid target Arsenal duo Jesus and Martinelli
Ahead of the summer trading period swinging open, the table-topping Arsenal are already making inroads behind the scenes – but they’ve been dealt a blow on one of their midfield targets.
Arsenal dealt hammer blow in pursuit of Premier League midfielder
Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi have established themselves as one of the best two-man midfield units in England’s top flight – but those behind them in the pecking order could do with re-shuffling.
Mikel Merino is a valuable member of the squad, of course, but signing someone of Sandro Tonali’s ilk would be shrewd business.
Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a summer move for the 25-year-old, who moved from AC Milan in the summer of 2023.
A deal for the defensive midfielder, though, could be off the cards on the back of Fabrizio Romano’s latest update as he states that he’s open to a move to Manchester United instead.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Romano wrote: “Manchester United have Sandro Tonali very high on their shortlist for June, as reported. The player would be open to the move.”
He did insist that Manchester City and Arsenal are also informed on the Italian’s situation as we near closer to the summer transfer window.
Newcastle legend Chris Waddle have warned the Gunners of signing Tonali by suggesting that Tonali is too similar to Rice in the way that he possesses decent passing, has a good shot and is able to dot about the engine room with relative ease.
Tonali to Old Trafford? Arsenal’s alternative targets
Although it’s not an open and shut case at the time of writing, Sandro Tonali to Arsenal is now looking unlikely given that a move to Old Trafford has been green-lit by the 31-cap Italy international.
Tonali aside, the capital club could have the chance to sign Real Madrid and France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga.
A source close to CaughtOffside said: “They’ve been offered [Eduardo] Camavinga but they’ll only go for it if they’re convinced it’s right for them. For now, they have other preferred targets.”
Arne Slot’s Liverpool could pose as a threat in the Gunners’ prospective deal for the Frenchman but the fact that he wants to play in the Champions League could play into their hands.
Elsewhere, Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a move for Paris Saint-Germain youngster Senny Mayulu. His deal is set to expire at the end of 2026/27 and he’s yet to put pen to paper on fresh terms.
