Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Opening Declan Rice bid REJECTED, Moises Caicedo pursuit ended, Kai Havertz proposal, Ilkay Gundogan latest
Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news, gossip and rumours from Arsenal in talkSPORT's live blog.
The summer window is almost open and Mikel Arteta is out to boost his squad to give them the best chance of mounting another title charge next season.
The Gunners came close to a first Premier League title in 19 years having finished five points behind champions Manchester City.
With City's dominance unlikely to waver and the clubs who finished below them set to get stronger, Arsenal are now set for huge activity both in and out of the Emirates to maintain their status alongside the elite.
Top stories
- Arsenal's opening Declan Rice bid REJECTED by West Ham
- Arsenal target stunning move for Chelsea's Kai Havertz
- Arsenal chief drops Ilkay Gundogan transfer hint
- Arsenal tell West Ham they will make Declan Rice most expensive British player in history
- Arsenal identify Leicester star Timothy Castagne as alternative right-back solution
Follow our live blog below for all the latest news from Arsenal…
Arsenal’s Auston Trusty has been speaking to his international teammates about his future at the club.
Trusty spent the last campaign on loan at Birmingham City, with his impressive performances leading to him winning the club’s Player of the Year.
After signing for the Gunners 18 months ago, the defender has failed to break into Mikel Arteta’s side and may now be set for a move away with Rangers reported to be interested.
And he has now admitted that he has been speaking with his USA teammates about his future at the Emirates.
He said: “I definitely speak to the other players because we’ve all been in these environments.
“The football world is very small, so if you’re in a situation a lot of guys have been in, it’s good to talk to people here because not too many people, at least around me, other than my agent and the team, are going to understand the ins and outs fully.
“We all talk about it all day, all different scenarios and situations, which is good and helps me figure things out. But my mind really is focused on the national team right now.
“It’s hard for me to focus on (the transfer window) because it’s almost like I’m doing a discredit to the national team because it’s such an honour and privilege to be here.”
Arsenal are readying a second bid for Declan Rice.
talkSPORT understands that earlier today, West Ham rejected an opening offer from Arsenal for Rice.
The Gunners had indicated they are willing to meet the Hammers’ asking price of more than £100m but their initial bid is believed to be much lower.
And Fabrizio Romano reports that the first offer was put in to open firm negotiations with West Ham, with another bid set to follow.
Rice has his heart set on a move to the Gunners, although champions Manchester City are considering hijacking the deal.
Kai Havertz has reportedly given the green light to Arsenal’s contract bid.
Havertz is being pursued by the Gunners this summer and the club are in talks with Chelsea over a possible deal.
The German is now happy to go ahead with the contract offer, according to Fabrizio Romano, but the clubs are yet to agree on a fee.
talkSPORT understands that Arsenal hold a genuine interest in signing the forward, however, the two clubs are far apart in their valuations of the player.
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid were interested but now seem to have pulled out of the race.
Inter Milan are reportedly interested in signing Folarin Balogun on loan next season.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Nerazzurri have earmarked the Arsenal striker as a potential replacement for Joaquin Correa this summer.
But the report adds that Arsenal would prefer a permanent sale over a loan and are hoping to fetch £34million for the American following his loan at Reims last term, where he scored 21 goals.
Arsenal will not include Emile Smith Rowe in their future bids for Declan Rice.
“Smith Rowe, however, is part of Arsenal’s plans for the future,” Fabrizio Romano told Caught Offside.
“They don’t want to let him go.”
Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri is struggling to agree a new contract, according to reports.
Nwaneri made history for the Gunners when he became the Premier League’s youngest ever player during a short cameo against Brentford last September.
The Athletic claim there are “serious doubts” Nwaneri will sign a new deal at Arsenal, with the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea both interested in poaching the teenager.
Arsenal have reportedly pulled out of the race to sign Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo.
The Times claim that the Gunners are no longer interested in signing the 21-year-old as they focus instead on a deal for West Ham captain Declan Rice.
The report adds that Arsenal’s decision is ‘perhaps not unrelated to Rice’s valuation’.
Arsenal had two bids for Caicedo rejected by Brighton in January.
The race to sign Declan Rice is hotting up, with a second club reportedly joining Arsenal.
The Telegraph claim that a second “top club” expected to bid for the West Ham captain in the next 24 hours but it is unclear whether that club is Manchester City.
The report adds that Arsenal are also expected to make an improved offer for the 24-year-old, having seen their opening offer of an initial £80million knocked back.
Ally McCoist has hailed Arsenal target Kai Havertz.
Speaking on talkSPORT, McCoist said: “I’m having him. I’m telling you right now he’s been playing out of position, without a doubt, never a centre-forward.
“I specifically watched him in a couple of games I went to and he just keeps coming towards the ball, whereas a centre-forward nine times out of 10 disappears from the ball.
“But I think he’s a top player, I really think he’s a top player as a number 10 or a midfielder.”
Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior has married Claudia Kowalczyk this week.Kowalczyk was crowned Queen of Germany’s Twerk Competition in 2017.Kiwior meanwhile will hope to play in Poland’s friendly against Germany tomorrow.https://www.instagram.com/p/CtZdOWkN2Ql/
A potential boost for Arsenal in the race to sign Ilkay Gundogan as Borussia Dortmund have dropped out of the race.
BILD report the Bundesliga giants offered their former player a return, but he isn’t keen.
They can on to claim it’s now between Barcelona, Arsenal and Manchester City.
The Gunners have offered Gundogan a two-year deal, which City have matched.
Meanwhile, there is also interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia that could blow the Gunners out of the water.
Simon Jordan believes that Arsenal shouldn’t pay more than £100million for Declan Rice after having their opening bid rejected for the England international.
talkSPORT understands the Gunners’ offer was £80m plus £10m in add-ons, but the Hammers want more.
Manchester City are also monitoring the situation, but Jordan doesn’t expect them to try and blow Arsenal out the water.
Speaking to talkSPORT, the former Crystal Palace owner said: “I don’t think they have to do anything unless someone else comes in.
“If Arsenal are the only game in town, then West Ham aren’t going to have a choice.
“There might be a consideration for Manchester United.
“Man City aren’t this Johnny Splatter Cash that people think they are.
“They will try to find a deal, but we will see.
“I don’t think it gets past £100m.”
Declan Rice is Arsenal’s main summer transfer target, but the London giants are also extremely keen on recruiting Chelsea’s Kai Havertz.
talkSPORT understands the Gunners’ interest is genuine and Alex Crook has shared an update.
Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: £75million is Chelsea’s asking price.
“The two clubs are in negotiations. Arsenal are hopeful they can drive Chelsea down a bit.
“I am not sure if you are going to spend £70m; that is necessarily a position that you really need to strengthen because they have a lot of that type of player already.
talkSPORT sources have confirmed that Arsenal’s opening bid for Declan Rice was £80million plus £10m in add-ons.
Manchester City are lurking in the background and watching developments ahead of making a new bid.
However, the Gunners are still the favourites for the England international.
talkSPORT understands West Ham have rejected Arsenal’s opening bid for Declan Rice!
The Gunners indicated they were willing to pay £100million for the England international, but the first bid was much lower.
Rice has his heart set on a move to the Emirates after rejecting Bayern Munich’s advances.
However, champions Manchester City are contemplating a late swoop for the Hammers captain.
Arsenal’s fixtures for the 2023/24 Premier League season are out.
The Gunners open the campaign at the Emirates against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, August 12.
They welcome West Ham on Boxing Day and end the season with a visit to Wolves.
Here are the full fixtures.
12/08 Nottingham Forest (h)
19/08 Crystal Palace (a)
26/08 Fulham (h)
02/09 Manchester United (h)
16/09 Everton (a)
23/09 Tottenham Hotspur (h)
30/09 Bournemouth (a)
07/10 Manchester City (h)
21/10 Chelsea (a)
28/10 Sheffield United (h)
04/11 Newcastle United (a)
11/11 Burnley (h)
25/11 Brentford (a)
02/12 Wolverhampton (h)
05/12 Luton Town (a)
09/12 Aston Villa (a)
16/12 Brighton (h)
23/12 Liverpool (a)
26/12 West Ham United (h)
30/12 Fulham (a)
13/01 Crystal Palace (h)
30/01 Nottingham Forest (a)
03/02 Liverpool (h)
10/02 West Ham United (a)
17/02 Burnley (a)
24/02 Newcastle United (h)
02/03 Sheffield United (a)
09/03 Brentford (h)
16/03 Chelsea (h)
30/03 Manchester City (a)
02/04 Luton Town (h)
06/04 Brighton (a)
13/04 Aston Villa (h)
20/04 Wolverhampton (a)
Kick-off times to be confirmed at a later date.
Hello, and welcome back to talkSPORT.com’s live Arsenal transfer blog. Let’s start by looking at the big stories from yesterday…
talkSPORT understands that the Gunners are indeed keen on signing Chelsea’s Kai Havertz amid claims the Gunners have submitted an opening proposal for the German.
However, Chelsea’s asking price of around £70m will have to drop if Arsenal are to seriously pursue a move.
Meanwhile, Emile Smith Rowe is set to stay at the Emirates this summer despite enduring a frustrating 2022/23 Premier League campaign and being the subject of interest from Brighton and Aston Villa.
Arsenal have no plans to allow Emile Smith Rowe to leave this summer, according to reports.
The Daily Mail claim the 22-year-old has been told he is a part of Mikel Arteta’s plans for the next season despite interest from the club’s Premier League rivals.
Aston Villa and Brighton are two other clubs that like Smith Rowe, who is contracted to Arsenal until the summer of 2026.
Arsenal’s interest in Kai Havertz is genuine, talkSPORT understands.
talkSPORT’s Football correspondent Alex Crook has revealed the Gunners and Chelsea are some way apart in terms of valuation but the deal is one to keep an eye on.
Havertz has two years remaining on his deal at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal have reportedly made an opening proposal to sign Kai Havertz from Chelsea.
The Athletic claim the north London club hold a strong interest in Havertz and are now working to sign the 24-year-old.
Arsenal’s pursuit, which is said to still be at a relatively early stage, has stepped up in recent days following contact with London rivals Chelsea and German international Havertz.
Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has admitted he is desperate for Arsenal to sign Declan Rice.
The politician and Gunners fan told football.london: “Yeah, he’s the one I’d really like to see come in. I think he’s a fantastic player, I think he’d fit into Arsenal a treat.
“There’s [Moises] Caicedo as well from Brighton who I know we’re after. But Declan Rice is the one I’d like to see completed as soon as possible if that’s going to happen.”
Emile Smith Rowe is set to stay at Arsenal this summer.
Smith Rowe has been told that he is part of Mikel Arteta’s plans next season, according to the Dail Mail.
The youngster struggled last season, appearing 14 times off the bench as the Gunners challenged for the Premier League title.
And this lack of gametime led to doubts over his future at the Emirates but he now looks to have been told that he will see more of the pitch next campaign.
The Premier League’s youngest player Ethan Nwaneri may leave Arsenal this summer.
Arsenal’s academy product’s schoolboy registration is ending this month and there are doubts over whether he is going to sign a new deal at the club, according to The Athletic.
Nwaneri is attracting interest from Chelsea and Manchester City, while Man United are also said to be looking at bringing in the 16-year-old this summer.
Arsenal have been linked with wonderkid labelled the ‘Turkish Lionel Messi’.
18-year-old Arda Guler impressed last campaign with Fenerbahce and is now attracting interest from many top teams all over Europe.
Arsenal are one of the sides interested in signing Guler this summer, with football.london reporting that the Gunners may sanction an offer for the young star alongside moves for Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo.
Fabrizio Romano has also revealed that the midfielder has a £15million release clause in his contract, meaning a deal could be done for a cheap price.
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is attracting interest from Italy this summer.
Partey played a key role in the Gunners’ Premier League title push last season but his future may be in doubt.
With Mikel Arteta looking to bring in Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo, the Ghanaian is likely to be offloaded is those deals go through.
And The Times report that two clubs in Italy are interested in signing the midfielder.
